Naomi Osaka got her 2025 season off to a winning start with a victory over qualifier Lina Glushko in the first round of the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand on Monday.
The 27-year-old Japanese and four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka needed 1 hour and 25 minutes to hold off Glushko in a 6-4, 6-4 victory and advance to the second round of the WTA 250 event.
“I’m really happy to be back. I definitely think she’s an amazing opponent. I had never played her before. It was good to have to scrap for the first round. I had no idea what the score was most of the time.
“I just kept trying to tell myself ‘One point at a time,’ and try not to get discouraged.
“Thankfully it came out in my favor at the end.” Osaka said after the win.
Osaka will hope to maintain this form when she takes on Julia Grabher in the second round. Grabher saved one match point in a 2-6, 6-3, 7-6(7) win over qualifier Leyre Romero Gormaz on Monday.
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