Naomi Osaka wins comeback and reaches third round at Australian Open

On By Littum

The former world no. 1 Naomi Osaka rallied from a set down to beat Karolina Muchova 1-6, 6-1, 6-3 at the Australian Open on Wednesday and advance to the third round at a Grand Slam for the first time since her return from maternity leave .

Four-time major champion Osaka took a 15-month maternity break and returned to tennis in January 2024 following the birth of her daughter Shai in July 2023.

She struggled for consistency last season but has looked promising this campaign and reached the ASB Classic final in Auckland last week when she pulled out injured.

On Wednesday at the Show Court Arena, Muchova swept the first set in about half an hour before Osaka responded with a double-break and closed out the second set with a quick service game.

In the third set, the Japanese player continued to improve, finishing the match with 33 winners to 27 unforced errors, while Muchova hit 27 winners to 29 unforced errors.

Czech 20th seed Muchova defeated Osaka when the pair met at the US Open last year, but Osaka said she got her “revenge” this time at the Melbourne Park major.

“She crushed me at the US Open when I had my best outfit ever,” joked two-time Australian Open winner Osaka in an on-court interview. “I was so disappointed. I was so mad.

“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.”

After defeating Caroline Garcia in three sets in the first round on Monday, unseeded Osaka endured a similar match against Muchova in just two days.

“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 being back on those courts… It really makes my year.”

Clash Of Moms

Osaka will face Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic in a clash of mothers in the third round on Friday. Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Bencic is playing in her first major since the birth of her daughter last year.

Bencic said she was looking forward to meeting Osaka, who she lost to in their last meeting at the 2022 Miami Open semifinals. Bencic has won three of their five meetings against Osaka.

“I think it will be a fun match,” Bencic said after her 6-1, 7-6(3) victory over Suzan Lamens. “I think she beat me last time, but I have a good record against her.

“But it doesn’t really matter anymore. I feel good playing her. I think it will be a good match. Hopefully on a big track,” she added.

Zheng rushes out, Sabalenka advances

In Wednesday’s other matches, Paris Olympic champion and last year’s runner-up Zheng Qinwen crashed out after a shock 7-6(3) 6-3 second-round defeat by unseeded German Laura Siegemund, the second-oldest player in the draw. at the age of 36.

Two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka dropped her serve three times and faced 11 break points before beating Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-3, 7-5, while American seventh seed Jessica Pegula comfortably saw off Belgium’s Elise Mertens 6-4 , 6-2.

The in-form Coco Gauff, a title challenger to Sabalenka, will face Great Britain’s Jodie Burrage later in the day.