MELBOURNE, Australia — After facing a challenging first set on Wednesday, Naomi Osaka took a moment to gather her thoughts and emerge victorious, securing her place in the third round of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time since 2022.
“I kept reminding myself… if she manages to beat me 6-1, 6-1, she must be the greatest player ever,” Osaka reflected after her dramatic comeback victory of 1-6, 6-1, 6-3 against No. 20 Karolina Muchova at the Australian Open. “I just focused on the fight.”
And fight she did! The four-time Grand Slam champion showcased her power and skill, matching Muchova’s intensity on the court at Kia Arena and ultimately finding the winning strategy.
“Despite the dramatic score in the first set, I recognized there were critical moments where I could’ve snagged a game or two. I made it a point not to dwell on the past,” Osaka explained. “Staying present was key.”
Though reflecting on the past can sting, it also fueled her determination. Last year, Muchova had halted Osaka’s progress in the second round at the U.S. Open, providing extra motivation this time around.
“She completely dominated me at the U.S. Open when I was donning my best outfit ever!” Osaka joked in her post-match interview. “I was so disappointed. This felt like my little bit of revenge.”
After losing in the first round at Melbourne Park last year during her comeback from maternity leave, Osaka avenged herself with a victory over Caroline Garcia earlier this week.
Next on her challenging journey is a match against Belinda Bencic, the Tokyo Olympic gold medalist who is making her Grand Slam comeback after welcoming her daughter, Bella, last year.
In the same thrilling atmosphere on Wednesday afternoon, last year’s women’s finalists were both in action.
Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka extended her remarkable run to 16 wins at the Australian Open, sealing victory by winning the last five games against No. 54-ranked Jessica Bouzas Maneiro with a score of 6-3, 7-5 on Rod Laver Arena.
However, No. 5 Zheng Qinwen faced challenges, distracted by a time penalty, and fell to No. 97 Laura Siegemund with a scoreline of 7-6 (3), 6-3 on John Cain Arena. Zheng, fresh off a series of accomplishments last season, had a tough start to her year.
She made a shoe change early in the second set and received a time warning she felt disrupted her concentration: “I sensed that maybe today just wasn’t my day. The details in crucial moments really mattered, and I didn’t make the best choices,” Zheng lamented.
Reflecting on a lackluster serve that barely made it over the net, Zheng exclaimed, “This is my fourth year on tour, and I’ve never experienced such a distraction.”
Advancing alongside other talented players were No. 7 Jessica Pegula, who triumphed over Elise Mertens 6-4, 6-2, 17-year-old sensation Mirra Andreeva, the No. 14 seed with a tight 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (8) win against Moyuka Uchijima, and No. 30 Leylah Fernandez, the 2021 U.S. Open finalist.
Siegemund, though never past the third round in Australia, is riding the confidence of her significant upset.
“I knew I had to bring more than my best tennis,” Siegemund stated. “I felt like I had nothing to lose and just told myself to play freely.” Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic, chasing a record 25th Grand Slam title, added another notch to his legacy with a win of 6-1, 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-2 against Jaime Faria on Wednesday afternoon.
This match marked Djokovic’s 430th Grand Slam singles encounter, setting a new record in tennis history, surpassing Roger Federer.
“For over 20 years, I have been competing at the highest level in Grand Slam tournaments,” he expressed to the crowd at Rod Laver Arena. “Win or lose, one thing’s for certain: I pour my heart into every match.”
The third seed, Carlos Alcaraz, is also on a quest to collect the Australian Open title to complete his collection of all four major championships, advancing with a convincing 6-0, 6-1, 6-4 win against Yoshihito Nishioka.
