Osaka Defeats Ruzic To Qualify For Australian Open Second Round

Naomi Osaka earned a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 victory over Antonia Ruzic at the Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday to qualify for the Australian Open second round in style.

The Japanese was made to fight hard for victory following Ruzic’s battling performance.

Osaka raced into a 3-0 lead against Ruzic before the Croat leveled 3-3 but she was able to win the set in 44 minutes.

Osaka’s intensity waned at the start of the second set as Ruzic fought hard and powered into a 3-0 lead.

The contest was stopped for more than five minutes on deuce at 5-3 to Ruzic when the red lights on the net that signal when a ball is out malfunctioned.

Osaka took a toilet break and returned to open a 2-0 lead, but once again Ruzic came roaring back.

Both players struggled to hold serve in a scrappy final set with Osaka drawing on her experience at the crunch to break once again and stay alive.

Osaka held on to seal her 70th Grand Slam main draw win to become only the second Japanese woman to achieve the feat after Ai Sugiyama.

She was impressed with Ruzic’s performance while tipping her for a great future.

Osaka said: “Probably serve [strongest part of her game], I think I served really well and she’s an amazing player, I never played her before so I hope to not see her on the other side of the net. But if I do I am pretty sure we will keep playing some really good matches.”

She will face Sorana Cirstea in the second round at Melbourne Park.