Australian Open 2025: Naomi Osaka roars back to beat Karolina Muchova in Melbourne - 'This was my little revenge'

Naomi Osaka has said that she exacted her "little revenge" on Karolina Muchova as the Japanese player came back from a set down to beat her Czech opponent and progress into the third round of the Australian Open. Osaka, a two-time champion in Melbourne, reached round three of a Grand Slam for the first time since her maternity leave after a 1-6 6-1 6-3 victory on the Kia Arena.

Osaka hugely impressive in downing Muchova - Australian Open highlights

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Naomi Osaka said that she got her "little revenge" on Karolina Muchova as she recovered from a set down to beat the former French Open finalist at the Australian Open.

Osaka, a two-time champion at Melbourne Park, found herself 6-1 down on Kia Arena, but produced a superb fightback to secure a 1-6 6-1 6-3 victory in just shy of two hours.

The Japanese reaches the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time since her maternity leave, and Wednesday's victory over Muchova is made that much sweeter by the fact that the Czech dumped Osaka out of the US Open last year.

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That match finished 6-3 7-6(5) in Muchova's favour in New York, but 'down under', it was Osaka who came out on top.

She faces the experienced Swiss Belinda Bencic in round three.

Osaka, the former world No. 1, was quick to point out her delight at evening the scores in her post-match interview.

"She crushed me at the US Open when I had my best outfit ever - I was so mad," Osaka said.

"This was my little revenge. It's not a bad thing, revenge is competitive. She's one of the toughest opponents out there."

Osaka had already beaten a top name in her opening match, when she ousted out Caroline Garcia in three sets, and another marathon encounter with Muchova took its toll.

"Honestly, it took everything," Osaka continued.

"I felt like I left everything I had on the court. Just to be back on these courts... it really makes my whole year."

'My little revenge!' - Osaka shattered but delighted after win over Muchova

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ZHENG PROTESTS TIME VIOLATION IN SHOCK SIEGEMUND DEFEAT

Big names have been falling in the women's draw in Melbourne, and last year's finalist, Zheng Qinwen, is perhaps the biggest yet.

The Chinese player, the current Olympic gold medallist, was stunned in the second round by Laura Siegemund 7-6(3) 6-3 on John Cain Arena.

Zheng, the fifth seed, is the highest-ranked player across both draws to make a premature exit, and she received two time violations during her defeat, which disrupted her rhythm as she protested that she could not see the shot clock.

"With my angle, the time was on the side, so I couldn't see," Zheng said of the time violation.

"If I bounce the ball, I can't catch the time. So I don't know if I'm late, or I'm early. I was so surprised to get that second serve because it had never happened to me before. If the time was directly in my vision zone, straight away I would see it, but it obviously distracted me from the match.

"It is also the first time I had this situation with a time violation. I think this is my fourth year on the tour, and that has never happened to me."

Siegemund v Zheng - Australian Open highlights

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The victory for Siegemund was her first over a top-10 player since 2022, with the German saying that she had "nothing to lose" and that she could "swing freely" against "one of the best players right now".

Watch and stream the 2025 Australian Open live on Eurosport and discovery+.

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