Japan’s Naomi Osaka marked a significant milestone in her comeback, defeating Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic 1-6, 6-1, 6-3 to reach the third round of the Australian Open. This marks the first time the former world No. 1 has advanced this far in a Grand Slam since giving birth in July 2023.

Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam winner, struggled in the opening set, losing the first five games. However, she displayed remarkable resilience, dominating the second set with a 13-6 edge in winners and turning around her service game. In the final set, Osaka sealed the match with 16 winners, despite Muchova’s efforts to save two match points.

“Honestly, it took everything. I felt like I left everything I had on the court,” Osaka said after the 1-hour, 57-minute battle. Reflecting on her challenging return to tennis, she added, “Just to be back on these courts and these arenas playing in front of you guys, it really makes my whole year.”

Osaka humorously referenced a previous loss to Muchova at the 2024 U.S. Open, saying, “She crushed me when I had my best outfit ever. This is my little revenge.”

Meanwhile, Kei Nishikori’s return to Grand Slam tennis ended in a second-round defeat to Tommy Paul, while Moyuka Uchijima and Yoshihito Nishioka also exited the tournament after hard-fought matches.

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