![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CIOTDEYB6X7UF32GTKXDG7YIO4.jpg?smart=true&auth=0ab4465a703b229bea6fd92027ffd3b3a4752b9f134a497038f69f014e78f395&width=400&height=225)
Serena Williams in action against Nadia Podoroska. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/B6OJDPFFUD73NT3Y4DYHLALCDY.jpg?smart=true&auth=61dd9307366977041b8ef4eb7e2307ba4887befc49275b1b96d3f580268a77f4&width=400&height=225)
Naomi Osaka during her Italian Open second-round defeat to Jessica Pegula in Rome on Wednesday, May 12. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MR2CSJB52U7AO775A2VFSJCLUU.jpg?smart=true&auth=e299e44bc86ba92e4647a2e442e31353aa0aea153f3bfae5894fc4fd50b11c1a&width=400&height=225)
Naomi Osaka was beaten 7-6, 6-2 by Jessica Pegula. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/K4SCVGNEPPBZM4SI3URYCCCBEU.jpg?smart=true&auth=8de9205127c81dd5482b3cf27dc159ac39562e6a08d67985639384cc3bac8ac6&width=400&height=225)
Japan's Naomi Osaka during her defeat to Jessica Pegula. Getty
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EC4Q33NUT4YFY5A5UUGO732MQE.jpg?smart=true&auth=1d8ebc37e0400b23be7c50b3c213f16a2067ecc92985f610a1e7f2ab38dd658b&width=400&height=225)
America's Jessica Pegula will now take on Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia in the third round. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/V4TL46DFOQAH7LNBBHBJEAN5ZQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=6b831035518f5be7196bdb221dc0ccb6c451f3ccdc16fc4d2740bf246bc75825&width=400&height=225)
Naomi Osaka throws down her racket after losing a point against Jessica Pegula. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QPQM2TI645IUNMVFLRI5YC2SLA.jpg?smart=true&auth=aef040f459dca230c376dfbe224f29a6ff77c90dbc358ae55df4cbeba26abd7f&width=400&height=225)
A frustrated Serena Williams during her defeat to Nadia Podoroska. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AMZ2K6XIRX33GZPHHCRGRFBHEY.jpg?smart=true&auth=5dff94fdcbc102d728c005bdeafa73d41bdfe1d72d5f070900fde69530cee0f5&width=400&height=225)
Serena Williams of the US during her 7-6, 7-5 defeat to Argentina's Nadia Podoroska
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4LRWDIVKYHLHMKTUSJKJQAJGTY.jpg?smart=true&auth=76a594a40ef3e6c0f97ec82e84d1c38ac556116d1352f650595eb2c1d00a7d6f&width=400&height=225)
Serena Williams was playing the 1000th WTA match of her career. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/A3DYGM4A7JKJ526EABSRGMIT6Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=3dcbac920433c9ce20177c20d27b1a503b0df942c0ddbbd6eea3844d00ca7903&width=400&height=225)
Nadia Podoroska was a surprise semi-finalist at last year's French Open. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CIOTDEYB6X7UF32GTKXDG7YIO4.jpg?smart=true&auth=0ab4465a703b229bea6fd92027ffd3b3a4752b9f134a497038f69f014e78f395&width=400&height=225)
Serena Williams in action against Nadia Podoroska. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/B6OJDPFFUD73NT3Y4DYHLALCDY.jpg?smart=true&auth=61dd9307366977041b8ef4eb7e2307ba4887befc49275b1b96d3f580268a77f4&width=400&height=225)
Naomi Osaka during her Italian Open second-round defeat to Jessica Pegula in Rome on Wednesday, May 12. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MR2CSJB52U7AO775A2VFSJCLUU.jpg?smart=true&auth=e299e44bc86ba92e4647a2e442e31353aa0aea153f3bfae5894fc4fd50b11c1a&width=400&height=225)
Naomi Osaka was beaten 7-6, 6-2 by Jessica Pegula. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/K4SCVGNEPPBZM4SI3URYCCCBEU.jpg?smart=true&auth=8de9205127c81dd5482b3cf27dc159ac39562e6a08d67985639384cc3bac8ac6&width=400&height=225)
Japan's Naomi Osaka during her defeat to Jessica Pegula. Getty
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EC4Q33NUT4YFY5A5UUGO732MQE.jpg?smart=true&auth=1d8ebc37e0400b23be7c50b3c213f16a2067ecc92985f610a1e7f2ab38dd658b&width=400&height=225)
America's Jessica Pegula will now take on Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia in the third round. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/V4TL46DFOQAH7LNBBHBJEAN5ZQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=6b831035518f5be7196bdb221dc0ccb6c451f3ccdc16fc4d2740bf246bc75825&width=400&height=225)
Naomi Osaka throws down her racket after losing a point against Jessica Pegula. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QPQM2TI645IUNMVFLRI5YC2SLA.jpg?smart=true&auth=aef040f459dca230c376dfbe224f29a6ff77c90dbc358ae55df4cbeba26abd7f&width=400&height=225)
A frustrated Serena Williams during her defeat to Nadia Podoroska. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AMZ2K6XIRX33GZPHHCRGRFBHEY.jpg?smart=true&auth=5dff94fdcbc102d728c005bdeafa73d41bdfe1d72d5f070900fde69530cee0f5&width=400&height=225)
Serena Williams of the US during her 7-6, 7-5 defeat to Argentina's Nadia Podoroska
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4LRWDIVKYHLHMKTUSJKJQAJGTY.jpg?smart=true&auth=76a594a40ef3e6c0f97ec82e84d1c38ac556116d1352f650595eb2c1d00a7d6f&width=400&height=225)
Serena Williams was playing the 1000th WTA match of her career. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/A3DYGM4A7JKJ526EABSRGMIT6Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=3dcbac920433c9ce20177c20d27b1a503b0df942c0ddbbd6eea3844d00ca7903&width=400&height=225)
Nadia Podoroska was a surprise semi-finalist at last year's French Open. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CIOTDEYB6X7UF32GTKXDG7YIO4.jpg?smart=true&auth=0ab4465a703b229bea6fd92027ffd3b3a4752b9f134a497038f69f014e78f395&width=400&height=225)
Serena Williams in action against Nadia Podoroska. EPA
Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams crash out of Italian Open
Japanese and American big guns both lose in straight sets to Pegula and Podoroska, respectively, in second round
![The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F9e2159fa-e4db-4215-b498-6b3607b75bee.png?smart=true&auth=cf728de2f2d93afc214682199f23d53c844677eb59567fe99abdb1c7e9f03161&width=70&height=70)
The National
12 May, 2021
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic