Naomi Osaka and Ons Jabeur Advance in Eventful Italian Open

In an eventful day at the Italian Open, Naomi Osaka and Ons Jabeur moved to the third round, capitalizing on the withdrawal of key players. Ninth seed Paula Badosa and veteran Petra Kvitova bowed out, citing injuries that might affect their participation in upcoming tournaments.

Osaka overcame a tough match against Swiss player Viktorija Golubic, triumphing 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, while Jabeur secured her spot due to Kvitova's withdrawal because of a leg injury. The setbacks for Badosa, suffering from a recurring back problem, and Kvitova, who just made a comeback post-maternity, cast doubt on their readiness for the French Open.

The tournament in Rome has seen its fair share of unexpected twists, as players like Osaka strive to reclaim their form, juxtaposed with veterans like Kvitova contending with the challenges of juggling professional pressures post-maternity. The focus now shifts to Jabeur's next match, where she'll face Italian Jasmine Paolini or qualifier Lulu Sun.

(With inputs from agencies.)