Osaka has to 'scrap a little' for season-opening win in Auckland
The Peninsula
Auckland: Four time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka made a winning straight sets start to her season Monday as she strives to rediscover the form that...
Auckland: Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka made a winning straight-sets start to her season Monday as she strives to rediscover the form that took her to world number one.
The Japanese star has struggled for consistency since returning to the court a year ago after the birth of daughter Shai in July 2023.
Now ranked 57, she stressed on Sunday that the fire to win still burned brightly and she was confident of revisiting her former glories.
Now under the wing of Serena Williams' long-time coach Patrick Mouratoglou, the 27-year-old put in a solid performance at the Auckland Classic to overcome Israel's Lina Glushko, ranked 221, 6-4, 6-4.
But she to dig deep with Glushko making her work hard in the rallies.
