Puig back to winning ways in Tokyo

TOKYO: Olympic champion Monica Puig thrashed American Varvara Lepchenko 6-0, 6-3 at the Pan Pacific Open on Monday, her first victory since winning a stunning gold in Rio.

Puig beat Germany’s Angelique Kerber in last month’s Olympic final to nab Puerto Rico’s first ever gold medal.

“A win is a win for me,” shrugged the world number 33 after her first-round victory in rainy Tokyo.

“I’m just trying to finish the season strong and play some good tennis,” added Puig, who crashed out of the US Open in the first round.

“The whole ride from the Olympics has been very crazy and very emotional so it feels good to settle down and play some good tennis again.”

Elsewhere, wildcard Naomi Osaka overpowered fellow Japanese Misaki Doi 6-4, 6-4 to reach the second round.

The 18-year-old seemed almost embarrassed after needing just 85 minutes to complete an upset victory. “It was a close match but to be honest I felt like all the pressure was on her,” world number 66 Osaka told reporters. “I didn’t feel any pressure at all so I wasn’t nervous or anything.”