Osaka Faces Stearns in Exciting Italian Open Clash

ROME, Italy — Naomi Osaka will face Peyton Stearns on Saturday in the Round of 16 at the Italian Open, with a chance to advance to the quarterfinals. This match marks the first meeting between the two players.

Osaka, a former world No. 1, has been on the comeback trail and recently secured a title in Saint-Malo, France. She has been performing well in Rome, winning all her matches in straight sets, including a notable victory over local favorite Sara Errani and tougher matches against Viktorija Golubic and Marie Bouzkova.

Stearns, on the other hand, has also shown impressive form. She advanced through the earlier rounds with straight-set wins over Nuria Brancaccio and Anna Kalinskaya. Stearns made headlines with a thrilling comeback against fifth-seed Madison Keys, winning 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (3) in 2 hours and 23 minutes.

Despite their lack of prior encounters, both players bring strong momentum into this match. While Osaka has been showing improved performance on clay, Stearns’ recent win over Keys may give her an edge as she seeks to capitalize on her current form.

BetMGM lists both players with close odds, showing that the matchup is expected to be competitive, with Osaka slightly favored at 4/5 and Stearns at evens.