Mari Osaka to make WTA main draw debut against Osuigwe

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.—A couple of wild card entries at the Miami Open will face off against each other in the very first round. American teenager Whitney Osuigwe takes on Mari Osaka, the elder sister of Naomi.

Sixteen-year-old Osuigwe comes in as the favorite with a ranking of No. 248 and a 2-3 record in 2019. Osaka hasn't won a match yet this season and has only played two events. Her most recent win was when she reached the final of a $25,000 event in Florence, S.C. in October. That same month, Osuigwe won a $80,000 title in Tyler, Texas.

The 22-year-old Osaka is ranked No. 338 and it will mark her first career WTA main draw match. She has played primarily on the ITF circuit since starting her career in 2011. Though relatively unknown, she has a career win over a notable player, her world No. 1-ranked little sister—though that was back in 2012.

The elder Osaka is a bit of a mystery, but if you read the recent *Sun Sentinel* story about the Osaka family, you'll know she was brought up on court training right alongside Naomi with the hopes of making it on tour.

One thing is for certain, Naomi seems very happy to have Mari by her side in Miami.

There are plenty of notable sibling duos on tour, evenly matched and not so much including the Williams sisters, Alexander and Sascha Zverev, Karolina and Kristyna Pliskova and Bob and Mike Bryan.

Mari Osaka will take on Osuigwe on Thursday, while Naomi has a bye.