Four-time grand slam champion Naomi Osaka has made a profitable return to the court docket after an virtually three month absence within the ASB tennis traditional in Auckland, undeterred by protests outdoors the stadium towards her Israeli opponent.
Osaka, the 2019 and 2021 Australian Open champion, beat qualifier Lina Glushko 6-4 6-4 in a good contest in her first match since October when a again harm on the China Open ended her 2024 season.
All the hallmarks of Osaka’s recreation have been current on Monday: the highly effective serve, forceful ground-strokes significantly from the forehand facet and the aggression. She regarded relaxed and cozy on court docket with no signal of her current harm.
Osaka needed to take care of a swirling wind on centre court docket and with delays in play attributable to the chants of a small group of protesters which have been clearly audible throughout the stadium.
There was an extended break as Osaka was poised to serve out the primary set when Glushko needed to go away the court docket for remedy to a hip harm.
“I had no idea what the score was most of the time,” Osaka mentioned. “I just kept trying to tell myself one point at a time and trying not to get discouraged.
“Thankfully it got here out in my favour ultimately.”
Osaka was supported at courtside by her new coach Patrick Mouratoglou who previously had a long-term association with Serena Williams.
She broke Glushko in the third game of the first set and held comfortably to win 6-4.
The second set was tighter. Osaka broke Glushko in the third game but Glushko converted her only break point of the match to level at 2-2.
Glushko held to love in the seventh game to lead 4-3 but Osaka seemed to step up at that point, held with two aces for 4-4, broke for 5-4 and held serve to love to clinch the win.
“I believe she’s a very wonderful opponent. I’ve by no means performed her earlier than,” Osaka said. “It was good to should scrap a bit of for the primary spherical.”