Former champion Naomi Osaka made an early exit from the Indian Wells tournament, suffering a 6-4, 6-4 first-round defeat to Colombia’s Camila Osorio on Wednesday.
The four-time Grand Slam winner struggled with consistency in her first match since withdrawing from the Australian Open due to an abdominal strain.
Osaka, who won Indian Wells in 2018 for her first career title, appeared unsettled throughout the match, committing numerous unforced errors. Meanwhile, Osorio displayed dynamic shotmaking, dominating the opening set with precision.
The 22-year-old Colombian, ranked No. 53 in the world, held her nerve despite a tense finish. She saved four break points in the final game and sealed the victory with a forehand winner before celebrating on court.
“First, good evening everyone, I’m Camila Osorio,” she said with a laugh in her post-match interview. “It’s crazy for me, it’s a dream come true. I really wanted to play on this court and was really excited to play a champion like Naomi, so I can’t believe it.”
With the win, Osorio became the first Colombian woman to defeat a former world No. 1 and will face 22nd-seeded Clara Tauson in the second round.
Kvitova, Other Top Players Also Exit Early
Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova also exited in the first round after losing 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 to France’s Varvara Gracheva.
Kvitova, who recently returned to the tour following the birth of her first child, has yet to secure a win in her comeback. Gracheva, acknowledging Kvitova’s balancing act between motherhood and professional tennis, praised her opponent’s resilience:
“It’s very inspiring for athletes, women—it’s just amazing. Petra, my admiration to you.”
Other notable results included Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia defeating American Bernarda Pera 6-3, 6-4, setting up a second-round clash with defending champion Iga Swiatek. Meanwhile, Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, a two-time Indian Wells winner, overcame Clervie Ngounoue 6-4, 7-6(7) to advance.
Men’s Draw Highlights
On the men’s side, Japan’s Kei Nishikori battled past Spain’s Jaume Munar in a grueling 6-2, 5-7, 7-6(3) encounter and will face 18th-seeded Ugo Humbert next.
British star Cam Norrie cruised to a dominant 6-0, 6-3 victory over Italy’s Luca Nardi, while American qualifier Colton Smith celebrated his 22nd birthday with a comeback win over Flavio Cobolli, earning his first ATP Tour main draw victory.
With early upsets and rising stars making statements, Indian Wells continues to deliver high-stakes action as the tournament progresses.
