Naomi Osaka beats Caroline Garcia in Australian Open re-match - UBITENNIS

Naomi Osaka beats Caroline Garcia in Australian Open re-match

By sampaolo
3 Min Read

Former world number 1 and four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka beat Caroline Garcia 6-3 3-6 6-3 in 1 hour and 45 minutes. Osaka avenged her defeat against Garcia, who won their previous head-to-head match in the first round of the Australian Open in 2024 on the Japanese player’s first Grand Slam appearance to the Grand Slam stage since giving birth to her daughter Shai during 2023 summer. 

Osaka now leads 3-2 in her head-to-head matches against Garcia. They have met three times at the Australian Open. Osaka beat Gracia 6-2 6-3 in Melbourne in 2021. 

Garcia ended her 2024 season after losing to Renata Zarazua in the first round of the US Open due to exhaustion.

Osaka earned the first break point with a backhand pass in the fifth game of the first set and converted it to take a 3-2 lead. The Japanese player closed out the first set with a double break in the ninth game to close out the first set 6-3.

Garcia broke twice in the first and ninth games to win the second set 6-3. 

Osaka hit three winners in the third game of the decider at 1-1 to earn her first break point and converted it to take a 2-1 lead. The Japanese player saved three break points before breaking serve on her second match point. 

Osaka set up a second round match against 2021 US Open semifinalist Karolina Muchova, who cruised past Nadia Podoroska in just 61 minutes. 

Osaka reached her first final since the 2022 Miami Open at the ASB Classic in Auckland last week. She showed a return to her best form under the guidance of Patrick Moratoglou, although she retired injured in the final against Clara Tauson. 

Muchova leads 2-1 in her head-to-head matches against Osaka and beat her Japanese opponent 6-3 7-6 (7-5) in the second round of the 2024 US Open. “I am really excited to play here. I am grateful to get the opportunity to play on Rod Laver again. I was a little shocked, when I saw the schedule. It’s a big honour for me”, said Osaka. 

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