Tokyo 2020 - Naomi Osaka, Ashleigh Barty, Heather Watson begin bid for Olympic tennis glory this weekend

ByNadeem Badshah

Updated 23/07/2021 at 08:47 GMT

Home favourite Naomi Osaka opens her Olympic campaign against China's Zheng Saisai in her return to action. Britain’s Heather Watson plays German Anna-Lena Friedsam while recently crowned Wimbledon champion Ashleigh Barty is drawn against Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo in the tournament which begins on Saturday.

Top seed and Wimbledon champion Ashleigh Barty begins her Tokyo Olympics campaign against Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo.

Home favourite Naomi Osaka is making her much anticipated return to action following her withdrawal from the French Open to focus on her mental health.

The Japanese second seed opens her campaign against Zheng Saisai of China.

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Great Britain’s Heather Watson has a winnable match against German Anna-Lena Friedsam, a player ranked just one place above her.

Heather Watson

Image credit: Getty Images

Elsewhere, third seed Aryna Sabalenka from Bulgaria faces Magda Linette from Poland.

Spain Garbine Muguruza is up against Veronika Kudermetova from the Russian Olympic Committee, while seventh seed Karolina Pliskova clashes with Alize Cornet from France.

Sixth seed Elina Svitolina has been drawn against German Laura Siegemund.

• Osaka making a 'major impact' in Japan - but how will she perform at Games?
• Gauff withdraws from Olympics after positive Covid test

The hardcourt tournament starts on Saturday at the Ariake Tennis Park. The women's singles gold medal and bronze medal matches, as well as the women's doubles bronze medal match and mixed doubles bronze medal match will be played on July 31st.

The women's doubles gold medal match and mixed doubles gold medal match will be played the following day.

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