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Osaka unfazed by off-Broadway opener

3 minute read

Naomi Osaka and Maria Sharapova will both begin their Brisbane International campaigns on an outside court on Tuesday.

NAOMI OSAKA of Japan at Melbourne Park in Australia.
NAOMI OSAKA of Japan  at Melbourne Park in Australia. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Ashleigh Barty will have to wait until late on Tuesday to discover her first opponent of the season as the cream of the women's tennis world hit the outside courts at the Brisbane International.

The inaugural men's ATP Cup teams event will dominate Pat Rafter Arena until it moves to Sydney for quarter-finals from Thursday.

It means defending Australian Open champion and world No.3 Naomi Osaka, two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, former US Open champion Sloane Stephens and former world No.1 Maria Sharapova will all grace outside courts in a treat for ground pass punters.

Sharapova, who received a late wildcard to contest the event, will play Jennifer Brady in the last match of the day for a chance to meet Australian world No.1 Ashleigh Barty in the second round.

Osaka meets Greek danger Maria Sakkari while Kvitova, a winner in Brisbane nine years ago, plays Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

Australian veteran Samantha Stosur lapped up the conditions on the outdoor court on Monday, upsetting three-time major winner Angelique Kerber in what she described as her best win in the city.

Osaka doesn't anticipate any demons either.

"Like I've always said, I can play on court 26," she said.

"I don't care where I play; I just want the people that want to watch me play ... be able to come."

Stosur will play the winner of Tuesday's match between Madison Keys and Marie Bouzkova in the second round, while Ajla Tomljanovic's prize for downing compatriot Priscilla Hon is a date with world No.2 Karolina Pliskova.

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