Osaka returns to a Slam’s 3rd round at the Australian Open

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Naomi Osaka second round match at Australian Open couldn’t possibly have started in a worse way. A full 21 minutes in, she sailed a forehand service return well long and behind like 5-0.

Osaka went to the sideline to change, plopped down and draped a white towel over her head, blocking all sights and leaving her with only her thoughts. She stayed like that throughout the break between matches, even maneuvering a water bottle under that towel to grab a drink.

This was not a match against an unknown opponent, one that Osaka knew for sure she could beat. It was against the 20th seed Karolina Muchovarunner-up at the 2023 French Open and three-time semi-finalist at other majors, including at Melbourne Park in 2021. Muchova had also defeated Osaka in their last two matches. None of that mattered this afternoon, however: Osaka forgot the disappointing start and came all the way back to win 1-6, 6-1, 6-3 on Wednesday.

What was her thinking? “Just pay attention and try not to get too negative about yourself. I think, for me, the score in the first set was very dramatic, but there were key points that maybe I could have won a match here or there,” Osaka explained afterwards. “So I kept trying to tell myself that.”

This was in some ways a momentous moment for Osaka, who once reigned at the top of women’s tennis, winning four Grand Slam titles – two at the Australian Open, two at the US Open – and rising to no. 1 in the WTA rankings. The win allowed her to reach the third round at a major tournament for the first time since the 2022 season.

Getting to that stage wasn’t considered a big deal at one point for her. But time off due to mental health breaks and then a pregnancy – Osaka’s daughter, Shai, was born in July 2023 – changed things.

Since returning to action a year ago, Osaka has shown signs of getting her game back together, including a memorable narrow loss to then-No. 1 Iga Swiatek at the French Open. However, this followed a win against 2022 US Open semi-finalist Caroline Garcia in Melbourne and meant the progress is real.

“It was definitely something that is a goal for me, especially after last year; I wasn’t able to beat a seed in a Grand Slam,” Osaka said. “Obviously I’m very grateful that it happened so early this year.”

She also joked about getting some measure of “revenge” by defeating Garcia – who eliminated Osaka in Melbourne a year ago – and Muchova in consecutive matches.

Next up for Osaka is a matchup against Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic, who is also a mother; her daughter, Bella, was born last year. Both Osaka and Bencic are big hitters.

“It’s going to be a fun game,” Bencic said.

Muchova was not the highest seeded player to leave on Wednesday. It was no. 5 Zheng Qinwen, runner-up to Aryna Sabalenka at the 2024 Australian Open and the gold medalist at the Paris Games August last year. Zheng lost a bit of focus after being called for a time violation and never managed to counter Laura Siegemund’s hitting in the 97th, bowing out 7-6 (3), 6-3 at John Cain Arena.

After the chair umpire cited her for taking too long to serve, Zheng hit her next serve so poorly that it bounced far before reaching the net.

“I knew,” said the 36-year-old Siegemund, “I just had to play more than my best tennis.”

The player who beat Zheng in the final 12 months ago, the no. 1-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, extended her Melbourne Park winning streak to 16 matches as she eyes a third straight title, beating no. 54 Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-3, 7- 5 at Rod Laver Arena.

Other women’s winners included no. 7 Jessica Pegula, no. 14 Mirra Andreeva and no. 30 Leylah Fernandez, with 2023 US Open champion Coco Gauff in action during the night session.

Novak Djokovic added to his record collection by playing in his 430th career Grand Slam match – one more than Roger Federer – and although he dropped a set for the second straight outing, advanced to the third round with a 6-1, 6 -7 (4), 6-3, 6-2 win over Jaime Faria.

Other men who advanced included no. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, who joked that he is now a “serve bot” after hitting 14 aces as he dismissed Yoshihito Nishioka 6-0, 6-1, 6-4.

___

AP tennis: