TOKYO - Naomi Osaka is playing tennis, still winning and talking to the media again.
The Olympic luminary Japanese superstar defeated China's Zheng Saisai 6-1, 6-4 in her first match in nearly two months at the Tokyo Games on Sunday.
Osaka has not played since withdrawing from the French Open in May after taking a break for mental health, revealing she has dealt with depression. After that she dropped out of Wimbledon.
Osaka stopped speaking to reporters after Sunday's match, saying in Paris she experienced "huge waves of anxiety" before meeting with the media and that she would skip news conferences.
"More than anything, I'm just focused on playing tennis," Osaka said. "The Olympics have been a dream of mine since I was a kid, so I think the break I took was a must. I definitely feel a little refreshed, and I'm happy again."
She said she was "glad" that journalists were asking her questions, then added: "I feel a little out of my body right now."
"There's nothing wrong with my body, I just felt very nervous," Osaka said. "I haven't played in France since, so there were definitely some things I did a little bit wrong, but I think I can improve in the matches that I continue to play."
Second-placed Osaka was quick from the start, serving an ace below the tee at the starting point of the match and running for a 5–0 lead.
Wearing a bright red dress and a red visor and with her hair in red and white braids to match the colors of the Japanese flag stitched across the left side of her chest, Osaka served a total of six aces and 25 winners for Zheng. Produced 10.
Osaka's match was originally scheduled to open the tournament on Saturday, but was pushed back a day before her role in Friday's opening ceremony.
"I'm very, very proud," Osaka said, revealing that the Olympic organizers asked her to handle the cauldron of honors back in March.
"When I lit the flame, I was so honored," she said. "I think it's a position you dream about and no one can do it. So, for me, when they asked me if I wanted to, I was very surprised but very honored And I'm very happy to be here and very happy to play - especially in Tokyo."
Osaka will next take on 50th-ranked Victoria Golubic of Switzerland.
On a good day for the hosts, 2016 bronze medalist Kei Nishikori defeated fifth seed Andrei Rublev 6-3, 6-4.
For the other top players in the tennis tournament at the Tokyo Games, it was not so straightforward.
Top-ranked Ashleigh Barty was upset with 48th-ranked Spanish rival Sara Soribes Tormo 6-4, 6-3 and two-time gold medalist Andy Murray pulled out of singles with a right quad strain.
Both are still in the doubles match.
Heat and humidity were issues again, with the temperature rising to 91 degrees Fahrenheit and the sun baking up the hard courts at Ariack Tennis Park.
Apart from this, Wimbledon finalist Karolina Pliskova of Czech Republic, No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, No. 4 Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, No. 7 Garbine Muguruza of Spain and No. 10 Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic were ahead.
Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro, who is planning to retire this year, beat Tunisia's Ons Jabur 6-4, 6-1 for her first win since recovering from Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Italy's Camila Giorgi defeated this year's Australian Open finalist Jennifer Brady 6-3, 6-2.
The men advancing included Greece's third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, Germany's No. 4 Alexander Zverev, Poland's No. 7 Hubert Herkaz, Argentina's No. 8 Diego Schwartzman, ROC's No. 12 Karen Khachanov and Australia's Max Purcell. - who replaced Murray in the draw and defeated Felix Auger-Aliassim 6-4, 7-6(2).