Naomi Osaka marked her successful return to competitive tennis with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over qualifier Lina Glushko in the first round of the ASB Classic in Auckland on Monday. This win comes after a nearly three-month absence from the sport, following a back injury that cut short her 2024 season during the China Open in October.
Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, demonstrated all the key elements of her game: a powerful serve, aggressive groundstrokes—especially from her forehand—and confident play. She appeared both relaxed and comfortable on the court, showing no signs of the injury that sidelined her for much of the past few months.
“I had no idea what the score was most of the time,” Osaka reflected after the match. “I just kept trying to tell myself one point at a time and trying not to get discouraged. Thankfully, it came out in my favor in the end.”
The match, while tight, was never in doubt for Osaka, who was cheered on from the sidelines by her new coach. Patrick Mouratoglou, renowned for his long-term work with Serena Williams. Osaka’s focus paid off when she broke Glushko in the third game of the first set, holding her serve confidently to secure the 6-4 win.
The second set proved to be more competitive. Osaka once again broke in the third game, but Glushko responded by taking advantage of her lone break point to level the score at 2-2. The momentum swung back in Osaka’s favor as she held serve with two aces to level the set at 4-4. Osaka broke Glushko once more to take a 5-4 lead, and with a commanding love hold, she sealed the match 6-4, 6-4.
Osaka’s serving was a highlight throughout the match, with the Japanese star landing seven aces and winning 74% of her first-serve points. Her first serve averaged around 111 mph, with her slice serve at 87 mph.
“I think she’s a really amazing opponent. I’ve never played her before,” Osaka said of Glushko. “It was good to have to scrap a little for the first round.”
Osaka’s victory marks an encouraging start to her 2025 season as she seeks to regain her form and health after a challenging year.
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