Naomi Osaka said that she h been "really riled up" as Japan's two-time Grand Slam champion reached second round at China Open on Sunday despite being far from her best.

How Osaka me it to 2nd round?

21-year-old former world number one racked up 26 unforced errors on way to a 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) win over Jessica Pegula of United States. Fourth seed Osaka looked frustrated and disgruntled on several occasions against 76th-ranked Pegula. Osaka, who plays Andrea Petkovic of Germany next in Beijing, was disappointed that she was unable to replicate form which won her Pan Pacific Open in Japan a week ago.

"During tournaments, first match is always worst for me," said US-based star.
 

RE | Simona Halep to play China Open despite chronic back problem

"But I was kind of expecting it to be better because I just played really well in Tokyo (actually Osaka)."I don't kw, I thought it would carry on. I was a little bit frustrated that I felt my game wasn't really where I left it." "I just felt like today I was really riled up, t really sure why," she ded, also describing herself as "very stressed" and "very nervous"."I also didn't want to lose in first round," she said.

Osaka's triumph in Pan Pacific Open was her first trophy since her second consecutive Grand Slam win, at Australian Open in January. Ar two-time Grand Slam winner, Simona Halep, cruised into round two in Beijing with a 6-1, 6-1 demolition of qualifier Rebecca Peterson. Romanian has h ongoing problems with her back and, despite having little trouble swatting aside Swede, mitted she was unable to play her rmal game."I'm t 100% recovered, I still feel pain," said sixth seed."Always when you have an injury, it's a little bit risky. But I accepted it, I took risk," she said. Venus Williams, whose sister Serena is t in Chinese capital because of a knee problem, battled into next round with a 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 victory over Barbora Strycova.

RE | Sumit Nagal's real challenge is to sustain performance: Leander Paes

Barty shrugs off injury 

Ashleigh Barty said that she expects to be fit for her opener in Beijing after Australian world number one struggled with a calf problem in Wuhan. 23-year-old lost to eventual champion Aryna Sabalenka in Friday's semi-final at Wuhan Open and needed treatment on her left calf halfway through second set. French Open champion, top seed at China Open, said, "I haven't been on court since my match in Wuhan. We'll look to get on court this afteron (for practice) and kind of test it out. From how it's been going, it's been marginally better than we expected, which is good," she said ding, "I'm sure that we'll have issue. It's just about w ticking boxes and making sure it's alright to go."

RE | Nick Kyrgios suspended, handed a 16-week ban for poor behaviour by ATP

RE | Nick Kyrgios serves underarm, fails to avoid meek first-round exit