Melbourne [Australia], January 15 (ANI): Two-time Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka staged a formidable comeback to defeat twentieth seed Karolina Muchova 1-6, 6-1, 6-3 within the second spherical on Wednesday. After an exciting opening-round victory over Caroline Garcia, Osaka overcame a sluggish begin to topple final 12 months’s US Open semifinalist, advancing to the third spherical of a Grand Slam for the primary time since her return from maternity depart.
“It means a lot,” Osaka mentioned on court docket, as per the official web site of WTA.
“She’s an incredibly difficult opponent for me to play. She crushed me at the US Open when I had my best outfit ever. I was so disappointed. I was so mad,” she added.
“I’m glad I got my revenge. It’s not a bad thing, revenge is competitive. She’s one of the toughest opponents out there,” she mentioned.
Osaka started her 2025 WTA season on the ASB Classic in Auckland, the place she reached her first match last since Miami 2022. Reflecting on her journey, she emphasised the significance of understanding her sport higher to provide constant ends in main tournaments. So far, her efficiency in Melbourne resides as much as her willpower.
“I’ve said this for years,” Osaka mentioned in Auckland, as quoted from the official web site of WTA.
“I’m not the most talented player but I feel like I work the hardest and that gives me a lot of confidence. But when you into a fistfight with another person, in the end, it’s who wants it more,” she famous.
“Last year it was really difficult for me to get that mindset and you could see that in a lot of my matches. I think the tennis was there throughout the whole entire year, but it was more of a mindset thing. I think now, here, I think I’m ready for the battle,” she added.
After edging out Garcia in a three-set battle, Osaka avenged two losses towards the French participant from final 12 months, together with a first-round exit on the Australian Open. Her second-round opponent, Muchova, who eradicated Osaka on the US Open in 2024, appeared poised to repeat historical past when she dominated the primary set.
“If you were to say ‘turning the page’, I would probably say that was in Auckland because I played really tough matches there in really tough conditions,” Osaka mentioned, as per quoted from the official web site of WTA.
“I felt like even though the tennis wasn’t necessarily the cleanest, I think it was like the mental side that got me through into the final. I was really happy about that. I think it continued on to this match because I don’t feel like I played the cleanest tonight either,” she mentioned.
“Mentally I just really wanted to win a lot,” she added.
The Czech outclassed Osaka early on, dictating play with exact shot-making and racing to a 5-0 lead.
However, Osaka confirmed resilience. By the tip, she had flipped the script, ending with 33 winners to 27 unforced errors, whereas Muchova tallied 27 winners and 29 unforced errors.
“After the first set, I just told myself, fight for every point,” Osaka famous.
“If she beats me 6-1, 6-1, then she’s the greatest player ever,” she mentioned.
In the third spherical, Osaka will face Belinda Bencic, who’s making her personal return after giving start to her daughter, Bella. Bencic has traditionally been a difficult opponent for Osaka, holding a 3-2 report of their head-to-head encounters however Osaka has demonstrated a newfound focus and willpower this season, and she or he’ll be able to face one more acquainted adversary in her quest for Australian Open glory.
“I think it’s going to be a fun match,” Bencic mentioned after her 6-1, 7-6(3) win over Suzan Lamens, as per quoted from the official web site of WTA.
“I think she beat me last time, but I have a good record against her. But it doesn’t really mean anything anymore. I feel good to play her. I think it’s going to be a nice match. Hopefully on a big court,” she mentioned.
“Really enjoying. to be in the third round and to have an opportunity like this,” she added. (ANI)