Naomi Osaka made a strong return to professional tennis by defeating ninth-seeded Ons Jabeur 6-3, 6-1 at the National Bank Open, marking her fifth victory over a Top 20 player since her maternity leave. Osaka, a former world No. 1, expressed her confidence, stating that playing on hard courts feels instinctual for her. Despite a subpar first serve percentage of 46%, Osaka showcased her skills by breaking Jabeur four times, who struggled with her serve at only 36%. The victory positions Osaka to face Belgium's Elise Mertens in the second round, whom she leads in their head-to-head meetings. Other notable matches included Paul Badosa's comeback victory and defending champion Jessica Pegula's progress in the tournament.