Australian Open: Naomi Osaka Advances To Second Round With Straight-Sets Win | Tennis News

World quantity three Naomi Osaka began her Australian Open in model Monday with a simple straight-sets victory over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova because the delayed Grand Slam lastly received underneath approach. The Japanese star confronted a doubtlessly difficult first-round contest in opposition to the world quantity 39, however made mild work of the Russian 6-1, 6-2 in 68 minutes.

“I used to be actually nervous coming into this match. I simply wished to play nicely,” Osaka, who hit 18 winners, informed a smattering of spectators on Rod Laver Enviornment. 

The 23-year-old, seeded three in Melbourne Park, appeared bodily robust having withdrawn from the warm-up Gippsland Trophy within the semi-finals, blaming a long-standing shoulder drawback. 

Osaka, whose flashy apparel included leggings and pink sneakers, skirt and wristbands, received the primary 4 video games and continued the momentum as she relentlessly labored Pavlyuchenkova across the courtroom with highly effective groundstrokes. 

Promoted

The three-time Grand Slam winner stretched her streak to fifteen matches unbeaten — together with the US Open ultimate — courting again 12 months.   

Osaka, who received the 2019 Australian Open, performs former prime 10 participant Caroline Garcia of France or Slovenia’s Polona Hercog within the second spherical.