Naomi Osaka is ambitious for 2025. Having become a mother in 2023, the Japanese wants to quickly return to the summits and her former level. This Australian Open is an excellent test. French girl’s killer Caroline Garcia in the first round, the 27-year-old struck a big blow by knocking down Karolina Muchova, 1-6, 6-1, 6-3. Semi-finalist of the last US Openwhere she had also dominated Osaka during her journey, the Czech was eagerly awaited but she did not resist the power of Osaka in the last two sets. Punchy and in good shape, the Japanese advances and will be entitled to a new shock in the third against Belinda Bencic. The journey is crazy but the former number 1 seems capable of anything. Especially with Patrick Mouratoglou by his side…
Video – Naomi Osaka in the 3rd round of the Australian Open
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“I was a little wary of him because his personality is very different”
At a press conference, the Japanese spoke about her collaboration with the former coach of Serena Williams. “Yeah, it’s funny, I told people, at the very beginning, I was a little wary of him because his personality is very different, I didn’t know if I was going to get along with him, I said it out loud, whatever, but he’s really funny, very hilarious, and I didn’t really expect that from him because I thought he was very straight-laced, but he’s very funny. After the match, I told Patrick that I was very grateful to have gone to Auckland because I had also played three very difficult sets there I think if I had immediately come here to Melbourne and had to face Garcia and Muchova… There, with these two matches in. three sets, just having the experience of the first tournament in Auckland really helped me.”
