The Japanese world number one will now face Spain's Sara Sorribes Tormo in round two. Osaka looked set for a more comfortable passage after a dominant opening set but she was stretched by the battling Cibulkova in the second. By the end, Osaka had hit 43 winners and eight aces while world 33 Cibulkova conjured up 23 winners. Former world number one Caroline Woznacki's Madrid Open lasted just minutes when she retired at 0-3 down to France's Alize Cornet suffering with a back injury. Stephens, who announced her engagement to US football international Jozy Altidore last week, goes on to face former world number one Victoria Azarenka.

Source: The Nation Bangkok May 06, 2019 00:45 UTC