Naomi Osaka gets ‘revenge’ on Karolina Muchova at Australian Open for crushing her when she had ‘best outfit’ last year
Naomi Osaka had suffered a straight-set defeat to Karolina Muchova in the second round of the 2024 US Open.
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Naomi Osaka, Karolina Muchova (Images via X)
Naomi Osaka has finally taken revenge on Karolina Muchova. On Wednesday (January 15), Osaka came from a set down to knock out 2021 Australian Open winner Muchova 1-6, 6-1, 6-3.
After eliminating Caroline Garcia in the second round to avenge her first-round exit in Melbourne last year, Osaka took her ‘little revenge’ on Muchova for crushing her at the 2024 US Open. Osaka, who drew mixed reactions from fans due to the outfit she wore at Flushing Meadows last year, suffered a straight-set defeat to Muchova in the second round.
It means a lot. She’s an incredibly difficult opponent for me to play. She crushed me in the US Open when I had my best outfit ever. I was so disappointed, so mad, but yeah. I mean, this was my little revenge [laughs]. It’s not a bad thing…revenge is competitive, you guys! But yeah, it means a lot because she is one of the toughest opponents out there.
Naomi Osaka said during her on-court interview
— ً (@tennisgif3) January 15, 2025
The 27-year-old, who hit 33 winners and made 27 unforced errors, has now reached the third round of a Grand Slam event for the first time since her maternity leave. Before this tournament, Osaka had suffered an injury scare.
She started her campaign for the 2025 season at the ASB Classic in Auckland, where she reached the final, her first since the 2022 Miami Open. But during the final, an abdominal injury forced the Japanese to give a walkover to Clara Tauson after winning the first set.
Naomi Osaka set to lock horns with Belinda Bencic
Naomi Osaka‘s next task is to beat Belinda Bencic in what will also be a battle of moms. The Australian Open is Bencic’s first Grand Slam tournament since giving birth to daughter Bella.
Bencic is another challenge for Osaka, for she is 3-2 in their head-to-head meetings. But it was Osaka who emerged as champion in their last meeting in the semifinals of the 2022 Miami Open.
Bencic, before setting up the third-round clash with Osaka, knocked out 2017 French Open champion and 16th seed Jelena Ostapenko and Suzan Lamens. The Swiss ace, who won the 2020 Olympic Games, has never reached the final of a Grand Slam event.
Osaka, on the other hand, is chasing her fifth Grand Slam title and her third Australian Open, having won the tournament in 2019 and 2021.
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Gouri Das
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