The 1-6, 6-1, 6-3 victory over Karolina Muchova allowed Osaka to reach the third round at a major tournament for the first time since the 2022 season.

Naomi Osaka, ranked just No. 51 in the world after a disappointing 2024 season, shook off a slow start en route to a second-round upset win in the Australian Open on Wednesday.

Zheng lost the 2024 decider at Melbourne Park to Aryna Sabalenka and went on to win the Olympic gold medal in Paris

Distracted by a time penalty and unable to counteract No. 97-ranked Laura Siegemund's aggressive approach, Zheng Qinwen's loss in the second round Wednesday fell a long way short of last year's run to the Australian Open final.

Osaka is back in the third round of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time since 2022, getting there with wins over two women who blocked her path last year.

In the end, Osaka won 1-6 6-1 6-3, and she looked every bit a real threat to make a deep run at the 2025 Australian Open, a tournament she has won twice before. While that was some time ago, she is still young enough, and clearly talented enough, to be a dangerous opponent for any player.

The Japanese, in the on-court interview, joked revealing that she felt satisfied for having avenged the defeat suffered against Muchova in Flushing Meadows, when the Japanese wore her best outfit ever!

Highlights of the sixth day of the Australian Open on Friday (all times GMT): 0932 GAUFF DUMPS OUT FERNANDEZ IN STRAIGHT SETS American third seed Coco Gauff made light work of Leylah Fernandez, beating the Canadian 30th seed 6-4 6-2 on Margaret Court Arena.

While there have been plenty of surprises in the men’s bracket so far, most of the top women have progressed through the draw without an issue.

Jimmy Butler has finished a seven-game suspension and will suit up for the Miami Heat's game against the visiting Denver Nuggets on Friday night.

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Coco Gauff still hasn't lost a match or even at set at the Australian Open — or, actually, this season. She moved into the fourth round at Melbourne Park with a straightforward 6-4, 6-2 victory over 2021 U.S. Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez on Friday night.