Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka of Japan made a triumphant comeback from a two-month break by defeating Chinese teenager Zheng Qinwen at the WTA hard-court tournament in San Jose, California on Tuesday.

The 24-year-old Japanese star outclassed the 19-year-old 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 in a first-round match.

Osaka had not played a competitive match since losing in the first round of the French Open (Grand Slam) due to a left Achilles tendon injury.

“It’s great to play again,” Osaka said after the win. “I haven’t played since May. It’s really good to be back.”

Osaka, a former world number one whose ranking has dropped to 41st, will play in the second round against American Coco Gauff, the 18-year-old sixth seed and runner-up at this year’s French Open, who beat Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina by 6-1, 6-0.

At the close, Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia fell to host Claire Liu 6-2, 7-5, her third loss in four matches against the American.

The South American had been on a hot streak this year with titles at Nottingham and Birmingham and a semi-final at Eastbourne. However, it was broken at Wimbledon when she too fell in the first round.

– Tuesday’s results at the WTA tournament in San José (California):

First round

Shelby Rogers (USA) d Bianca Andreescu (CAN) 6-4, 6-2

Veronika Kudermetova (RUS/N.9) beat Camila Giorgi (ITA) 7-6 (7/2), 4-6, 7-5

Caroline Dolehide (USA) def Kayla Day (USA) 7-6 (7/5), 6-4

Naomi Osaka (JPN) bout Zheng Qinwen (CHN) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1

Coco Gauff (USA/N.6) def. Anhelina Kalinina (UKR) 6-1, 6-0

Claire Liu (USA) beats Beatriz Haddad Maia (BRA) 6-2, 7-5

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