Title: Naomi Osaka Bagges Comeback Victory, Advances to Third Round at Australian Open
Naomi Osaka, the once-dominant tennis star and former world No. 1, reigned victorious over Karolina Muchova in a thrilling three-set Australian Open encounter on Wednesday. The scoreline was 1-6, 6-1, 6-3, marking Osaka's first return to the third round of a Grand Slam tournament since her maternity leave.
Osaka took a significant 15-month break from tennis to welcome her baby daughter, Shai, into the world in July 2023. She made her comeback to the sport in January 2024. Despite grappling with consistency issues in the previous season, Osaka has displayed promising form this year, reaching the final of the ASB Classic in Auckland only to retire due to injury.
Muchova capitalized on Osaka's early struggles, sweeping the first set in just over half an hour. However, Osaka regained her composure, securing a double-break in the second set and clinching it with a rapid service game. The momentum carried over into the third set, with Osaka improving her game and outperforming Muchova with 33 winners compared to 27 unforced errors.
Despite losing to Muchova at the U.S. Open the previous year, Osaka claimed "revenge" on Wednesday, crediting the setback as motivation. "She crushed me in the U.S. Open when I had my best outfit ever," Osaka joked, referencing her stylish attire from the match.
The unseeded Osaka had another grueling outing against Muchova, just two days after she pulled through in her first-round match against Caroline Garcia in three sets. She attributed her success to leaving "everything she had on the court."
In the coming third round, Osaka will face off against another mother, Swiss tennis star Belinda Bencic. This will be a clash of moms, as Bencic also made her comeback to professional tennis following the birth of her daughter last year. Bencic is eager to face Osaka and expressed hope for a match on a larger court.
Moms in Clash
Osaka and Bencic share a history, with Bencic emerging victorious in their most recent encounter at the 2022 Miami Open semi-finals. However, their record is 0-1 in Osaka's favor since her maternity leave, with the 2025 Australian Open match ending in Osaka's retirement due to injury.
Meanwhile, Paris Olympics champion and two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka faced adversity in her second-round match against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, but ultimately prevailed with a 6-3, 7-5 victory. Unseeded German Laura Siegemund, the oldest player in the draw at 36, stunned Paris Olympics champion Zheng Qinwen in the second round with a 7-6(3), 6-3 victory.
Seventh seed Jessica Pegula had an easy time in her second-round match against Belgium's Elise Mertens, while the in-form Coco Gauff, a title contender to Sabalenka, prepared for her match against Great Britain’s Jodie Burrage later in the day.
Osaka will face Swiss tennis star Belinda Bencic in the Australian Open 2025 third round, marking a clash of moms in the tournament. This will be their second encounter since Osaka's maternity leave, with their records standing at 0-1 in Osaka's favor.
The 2022 Miami Open semi-finals saw Bencic emerge victorious against Osaka, but their most recent Grand Slam meeting ended in Osaka's retirement due to injury during the 2025 Australian Open.
Paris Olympics champion Aryna Sabalenka overcame adversity in her second-round match against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, securing a 6-3, 7-5 victory. On the other hand, unseeded German Laura Siegemund stunned Paris Olympics champion Zheng Qinwen in the second round of the Australian Open 2025, winning with a scoreline of 7-6(3), 6-3.
Osaka's impressive win against Muchova in the Australian Open 2025 third round reignited her dominance in the tennis world, proving that she's still a force to be reckoned with, even after her maternity leave.
The Australian Open live stream broadcasted Osaka's triumphant three-set victory over Muchova, with the audience witnessing her impressive form and promising comeback to the sport.
