Former Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka fought back from a set down Wednesday to reach the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time since the birth of her daughter in 2023, gaining a “little revenge” for defeat at the US Open.
The Japanese star, who won in Melbourne in 2019 and 2021, dropped the first set against 20th seed Karolina Muchova before winning 1-6, 6-1, 6-3.
It was her second three-set examination in two days after being pushed all the way by Caroline Garcia in the first round.
“Honestly, it took everything,” Osaka said when asked how she turned the match around.
“I felt like I left everything I had on the court. I could have done better, but just to be back on these courts… It really makes my whole year.”
The Czech Republic’s Muchova was victorious when the pair last met, at the 2024 US Open, and she was out of the blocks quickest, sweeping to the first set in 32 minutes.
Osaka hit back…
Source: Guardian Newspaper