Osaka’s clay-court season starts with a loss in 1st round of Madrid Open

MADRID (AP) — Naomi Osaka's clay-court season started with a loss in the first round of the Madrid Open against Lucia Bronzetti on Tuesday.

Japan's four-time Grand Slam champion stumbled on match point as Bronzetti completed a 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 win before checking Osaka was OK as they approached the net for a post-match handshake.

The 55th-ranked Osaka was unseeded in Madrid for her first match in almost a month since reaching the fourth round of the Miami Open. Italy's Bronzetti will play fifth-seeded American Madison Keys in the second round. She will be seeking her third third-round appearance at a WTA 1000 event.

Alexandra Eala will get a rematch with Iga Swiatek in the second round in Madrid after stunning the Polish player as a wild card in Miami last month. The 19-year-old Eala won her first-round match 6-3, 6-2 against Viktoriya Tomova.

“Each match is a different story,” Eala said. “Even if it’s against the same player every time — doesn’t matter if I play her at the same time next year in Miami or in Madrid next year, it’s going to be a different story than the last one.”

Caroline Dolehide of the U.S. won 6-4, 6-4 against Elina Avanesyan to set up a second-round meeting with Liudmila Samsonova.

Another American to win was Peyton Stearns, who rallied to get past Kimberly Birrell 5-7, 6-3, 6-4. Hailey Baptiste defeated Sorana Cirstea 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (4).

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Lucia Bronzetti, of Italy, celebrates after winning against Naomi Osaka, of Japan, during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Lucia Bronzetti, of Italy, returns the ball against Naomi Osaka, of Japan, during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Naomi Osaka, of Japan, serves against Lucia Bronzetti, of Italy, at the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Naomi Osaka, of Japan, returns the ball against Lucia Bronzetti, of Italy, during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Naomi Osaka, of Japan, falls during her match against Lucia Bronzetti, of Italy, at the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Naomi Osaka, of Japan, reacts during her match against Lucia Bronzetti, of Italy, at the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Naomi Osaka, of Japan, leaves the court after losing to Lucia Bronzetti, of Italy, at the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Naomi Osaka, of Japan, reacts after throwing her racket during her match against Lucia Bronzetti, of Italy, at the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

SAO PAULO (AP) — The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights is calling for a permanent monitoring system to track Brazil’s compliance with its recommendation s following the devastating floods that struck southern Brazil one year ago.

Javier Palummo, the commission’s special rapporteur, told The Associated Press Thursday the initiative aims to maintain a permanent channel with Brazil's government and "strengthen public accountability, give international visibility to good practices, and monitor risks of setbacks—especially in the most affected areas and for vulnerable groups.”

Between April and May 2024, unprecedented floods hit nearly all the municipalities in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul. Over 2.3 million people were affected. Hundreds of thousands were displaced and 182 died, according to official data. Analysts compared the scale of devastation to Hurricane Katrina, which hit New Orleans in 2005.

A new report by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights released Wednesday highlights stark inequalities in the recovery process. Indigenous and quilombola communities —which are home to descendants of escaped slaves—, female-headed households, and unhoused people have faced significant challenges in accessing reconstruction aid and public services.

“These groups often reported being excluded from recovery planning,” Palummo said. “The lack of land regularization and limited institutional engagement reinforce historic inequalities.”

Palummo visited flood-hit areas in December. He cited the solidarity of a quilombola community where women led relief efforts as especially moving. He also pointed to the Mbyá-Guarani people of Eldorado do Sul, who lost their homes and school first to flooding, then to a construction project. Forced to resettle near a highway, they now face insecurity, health risks, and cultural loss.

“These disasters are not just natural—they’re worsened by chronic neglect,” he said. “They reflect deep structural inequalities and growing climate vulnerability fueled by unplanned urban growth, environmental degradation, and environmental racism.”

The report, he said, is the first of its kind by the commission affiliated with Organization of American States. Palummo will present the findings next week to local communities in Porto Alegre and to federal and state officials. He will also speak at a public hearing May 8 in Brasília.

Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

FILE - A woman is rescued from an area flooded by heavy rains in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Carlos Macedo, File)