Naomi Osaka kicked off her 2025 season with a hard-fought 6-4 6-4 victory over qualifier Lina Glushko within the first spherical of the ASB Traditional in Auckland, New Zealand.
This 12 months’s ASB Traditional holds particular significance for Osaka. The final time she performed this occasion was eight years in the past, in 2017, as a rising teenager ranked simply contained in the Prime 50. Again then, she reached the quarterfinals, defeating Venus Williams by way of walkover earlier than shedding to Ana Konjuh. Right now, she returns as a seasoned participant with 4 Grand Slam titles, 21 weeks as world No. 1, and a brand new position as a mom.
Going through Lina Glushko, a 24-year-old ranked No. 220, was no stroll within the park. Regardless of the disparity in rankings and expertise, Glushko pushed Osaka, showcasing the talents that had earned her two straight-sets wins within the qualifying rounds. Osaka needed to dig deep, breaking Glushko solely as soon as in a good first set and battling by means of windy circumstances and protests outdoors the stadium that interrupted play.
Osaka’s highly effective serve was the cornerstone of her sport. She fired seven aces, gained 77% of her first-serve factors, and saved her common first-serve velocity at a powerful 111 mph. Even throughout moments when unforced errors crept in, her serving consistency helped her regain management and in the end safe the win. Her means to remain composed and concentrate on one level at a time was key to navigating the match’s ups and downs.
For Glushko, this match was a priceless studying expertise. Taking part in in solely her fourth WTA main-draw match, the Israeli qualifier demonstrated grit and dedication, pushing Osaka in prolonged rallies and briefly taking the lead within the second set. Nonetheless, her lack of big-match weapons in the end gave Osaka the sting.
Osaka’s subsequent problem will probably be in opposition to Julia Grabher, who superior with a 2-6 6-3 7-6(7) win over Leyre Romero Gormaz. As Osaka continues to shake off the rust and construct her kind, followers will eagerly watch to see if she will be able to reclaim her dominance on the tour with the assistance of recent coach Patrick Mouratoglou. (picture: Jimmie48)
