Four-time major champion Naomi Osaka used a rain break to her advantage to win in two sets in the second round of the Auckland Classic on Wednesday. The Japanese star shrugged off some early errors to beat Austrian non-leading Julia Grabher 7-5, 6-3 and book a place in Friday’s quarter-finals at the Australian Open warm-up tournament.
The first set went with serve at 5-5 before rain forced the players off the court for just over an hour, giving Osaka the chance to face a nervy start. She consulted coach Patrick Mouratoglou, Serena Williams’ former mentor. ‘I got some great advice from a great coach,’ said Osaka, a former world number one.
‘I just tried to focus on my list points and go out if necessary, but luckily I’m here to play another round.’
The 27-year-old emerged to break at the end of the first set and early in the second to take control of the match in cool, windy conditions. Osaka’s serve was her strong point, with five aces and more than 80 per cent of her points won with her second serve.
Although the world number 57 was unbeaten, she struggled with her service response against Grabher, particularly in the first set. ‘She was a really tough opponent to play against,’ Osaka said. ‘I just felt I had to focus a lot on myself and try not to be as nervous as I felt.’
Osaka has struggled for consistency since returning to the court a year ago after the birth of her daughter Shai in July 2023. Ahead of Auckland, she said she is confident of revisiting her former glory.
Osaka rose to the world number one spot at the start of 2019 after winning the first of her two Australian Open titles. The first Grand Slam of the year begins on 12 January.
Leave a comment