Osaka fights back to defeat Muchova and keep Australian Open hopes alive
Former Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka (27) made a remarkable comeback on Wednesday, overcoming a set deficit to advance to the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time since the birth of her daughter in 2023, achieving a measure of "revenge" for her previous loss at the US Open.
The Japanese athlete, who claimed victory in Melbourne in 2019 and 2021, initially fell behind against 20th seed Karolina Muchova, but ultimately triumphed with scores of 1-6, 6-1, 6-3.
This match marked her second consecutive three-set challenge, having faced a tough battle against Caroline Garcia in the first round.
"Honestly, it took everything," Osaka remarked when reflecting on her ability to turn the match in her favor.
"I felt like I left everything I had on the court. I could have performed better, but just being back on these courts... It truly makes my entire year."
Muchova, hailing from the Czech Republic, had bested Osaka in their previous encounter at the 2024 US Open, and she started the match strongly, securing the first set in just 32 minutes.
Osaka responded with a double-break and quickly wrapped up the second set with an efficient service game.
She continued to elevate her performance against a formidable opponent who reached the semi-finals in Melbourne four years prior. With powerful groundstrokes, she struck first in the deciding set, breaking for a 3-2 lead.
A stunning backhand winner down the line saved a break point in the following game, and another break solidified her lead at 4-2.
A second break concluded the match in 1 hour and 57 minutes, setting the stage for a third-round encounter with Switzerland's Belinda Bencic, with a spot in the last 16 on the line.
"It means a lot; she is an incredibly challenging opponent for me," Osaka stated regarding Muchova.
"She defeated me at the US Open when I was wearing my best outfit ever," she joked. "I was so disappointed. I was so angry.
"This was my little revenge."
SportsLigue