(Reuters) – Naomi Osaka was cheered on to a 6-3 6-4 first-round win over Australia’s Astra Sharma on the Miami Open on Wednesday, nonetheless stung by the heckling she obtained in a second spherical loss at Indian Wells.
Playing in what she calls her dwelling match, Osaka was in full command proper from the second she stepped onto the Hard Rock Stadium courtroom, by no means permitting Sharma a single break alternative whereas protecting her 96th-ranked opponent below fixed strain, changing two of 11 break factors.
After the match Osaka soaked up the applause from the sparse crowd in what was a far totally different environment from 11 days earlier in Indian Wells when she fought again tears after being heckled throughout a second spherical loss to Veronika Kudermetova.
“This is like my dwelling match,” smiled Osaka, throughout her post-match on-court interview prompting a spherical of cheers.
“Honestly I simply did not wish to let something hassle me at present it doesn’t matter what occurred just like the final match I performed was not the best reminiscence for me.
“I simply needed to show I might come again out right here and compete and regardless of if I gained or misplaced simply know I had the perfect perspective that I might.”
A four-times Grand Slam champion, the Japanese former world primary has seen her rating fall to 77 coming into the match after she took a break from tennis following final yr’s U.S. Open to prioritise her psychological well being.
She has eased into the present marketing campaign, the Miami match being simply her second occasion since a third-round exit on the Australian Open.
(Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto. Editing by Toby Davis)
