World No 1 Naomi Osaka began her Madrid Open campaign with a straight sets win over Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova on Sunday.
Osaka, 21, produced a fine display of deep and powerful baseline hitting to defeat the former world No 4 6-2, 7-6 having trailed 2-4 in the second set.
The top seeded Japanese star will next face a Spanish wildcard, either Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino or Sara Sorribes Tormo, in the second round.
Osaka is yet to leave her mark on a clay court tournament and her only other visits to Madrid ended first with defeat in qualifying and then a first round loss last year.
But she overcame a tough opening assignment this year, with Cibulkova providing her typically never-say-die approach and consistent shot-making from the baseline, although the world No 33 has struggled for form this season.
Two-time grand slam champion Osaka went down an early break but quickly responded by reeling off four successive games to clinch the opening set.
She immediately went behind in the second set, but managed to force herself level at 4-4, before sealing the match in a tie-break to extend her perfect record against Cibulkova to three matches.
