Naomi Osaka is preparing for a challenging first-round match in Abu Dhabi as she has discovered that the opponent she will be facing is former world No. 7 Danielle Collins.
Following the release of the Abu Dhabi Open draw on Saturday, the four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka was paired with a qualifier. Collins, who reached the final of the 2022 Australian Open but lost to Ashleigh Barty, was among the players vying for a spot in the Abu Dhabi main draw through the qualifying event.
Collins secured her place in the Abu Dhabi qualifying final round by defeating Despina Papamichail 6-2 6-3 on Saturday. The following day, she continued her success by overcoming rising star Linda Fruhvirtova 6-4 6-3, earning her spot in the Abu Dhabi main draw.
After the conclusion of the Abu Dhabi qualifying on Sunday, six qualifiers were added to the main draw. Collins, who was expected to advance through the qualifying stage due to her status as one of the top contenders, was drawn to face Osaka in the first round.
When Osaka, 26, and Collins, 30, meet in Abu Dhabi, it will mark their fifth encounter. Osaka currently holds a 3-1 head-to-head record against Collins.
In their initial meeting at the 2018 China Open, Osaka dominated Collins with a 6-1 6-0 victory in the second round in Beijing. The following year, Osaka secured another comfortable win over Collins, defeating the American 6-4 6-2 in Indian Wells.
They did not face each other again until 2022, when Osaka convincingly defeated Collins 6-2 6-1 in Miami. However, Collins finally achieved her first victory over Osaka at the 2022 US Open, winning 7-6 (5) 6-3 after losing their previous three encounters.
Osaka, who returned to competitive tennis after a 16-month absence due to pregnancy, has had a mixed start to her comeback, with a win-loss record of 1-2 in her first two tournaments. Similarly, Collins has also experienced early exits in the early stages of the 2024 season.
Despite both players not being in top form at the moment, there is no doubt that their first-round matchup in Abu Dhabi will be an intriguing one.