A four-time Grand Slam champion, Osaka returned from maternity leave last year and lost in the first or second round of all four major tournaments. The 27-year-old Japan native has not won any event on the WTA Tour since capturing her second Australian Open title to start 2021.

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka survived a first Australian Open test, but last year's beaten finalist Zheng Qinwen suffered a shock second-round exit.

Naomi Osaka came from one set down to defeat Karolina Muchova in the second round of the 2025 Australian Open.

Aryna Sabalenka, Naomi Osaka, Zheng Qinwen, Diana Shnaider, Mirra Andreeva and Jessica Pegula all delivered magic winners on Day 3 of the Australian Open.

The Belarusian insists it is a Grand Slam and there are many other players who are playing well. Read more at straitstimes.com.

So far, confirmations; the surprise of the day was the defeat of Qinwen Zheng, finalist last year here in Melbourne. The Chinese was defeated by Laura Siegemund, who played a truly extraordinary match. The German is now in an open draw portion, in which there are also Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Diana Shnaider and Donna Vekic.

The world no 20 took the first set with ease, yet Osaka hit back to prevail 1-6 6-1 6-3 in front of a vociferous crowd at Melbourne Park

Aryna Sabalenka survives first Australian Open test, while Chinese ace Qinwen Zheng is shocked; Naomi Osaka sets up meeting with fellow mum Belinda Bencic; watch all the action from the ATP and WTA Tours on Sky Sports Tennis and Sky Sports+,

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka survived a first Australian ... Garcia by coming from a set down to see off 20th seed Karolina Muchova 1-6 6-1 6-3. Her draw does not get any easier with former ...

Zheng Qinwen was the first big name to exit the women's draw at the Australian Open on Wednesday after the Olympic champion was stunned by Laura Siegemund while top seed Aryna Sabalenka made heavy weather of her second-round match before going through.

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka survived a first Australian ... Garcia by coming from a set down to see off 20th seed Karolina Muchova 1-6 6-1 6-3. It was payback for Osaka after she lost ...

The Japanese, in the on-court interview, joked revealing that she felt satisfied for having avenged the defeat suffered against Muchova in Flushing Meadows, when the Japanese wore her best outfit ever!