WOMEN'S DAY 4: Osaka gets 'revenge' on Muchova in fightback

Former Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka fought back from a set down on Wednesday to reach the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time since the birth of her daughter in 2023, gaining a "little revenge" for defeat at the US Open.

The Japanese star, who won in Melbourne in 2019 and 2021, dropped the first set against 20th seed Karolina Muchova before winning 1-6, 6-1, 6-3.

It was her second three-set examination in two days after being pushed all the way by Caroline Garcia in the first round.

"Honestly, it took everything," Osaka said when asked how she turned the match around.

"I felt like I left everything I had on the court. I could have done better, but just to be back on these courts... It really makes my whole year."

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The Czech Republic's Muchova was victorious when the pair last met, at the 2024 US Open, and she was out of the blocks quickest, sweeping to the first set in 32 minutes.

Osaka hit back with a double-break before closing out the second set with a rapid service game.

Osaka continued to improve against a dangerous opponent who made the semifinal in Melbourne four years ago.

The former world No 1 Osaka, on the back of some blistering groundstrokes, struck the first blow in the decider as she broke for a 3-2 lead.

A searing backhand winner down the line saved a break point in the next game and another consolidated her advantage at 4-2.

A second break sealed the match in 1hr 57min to set up a third-round clash with Belinda Bencic of Switzerland for a place in the last 16.

"It means a lot, she's an incredibly difficult opponent for me to play," said Osaka of Muchova.

"She crushed me in the US Open when I had my best outfit ever," she laughed. "I was so disappointed. I was so mad.

"This was my little revenge."

SABALENKA DEFIES SERVE STRUGGLES

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka battled through serving woes Wednesday to make the Australian Open third round, but it was a less-than-convincing display by the world No 1.

The Belarusian dropped serve three times and faced 11 break points before overcoming Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro on Rod Laver Arena 6-3, 7-5, rattling off the last five games in a row.

It was her 16th consecutive victory on Melbourne's centre court after back-to-back titles and a first-round win over 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens.

Next up is Denmark's 42nd-ranked Clara Tauson, who faces a daunting task given the 26-year-old's record on the blue hardcourts.

Overall, Sabalenka is 16-2 on Rod Laver Arena with her only losses against Serena Williams in 2021 and Ashleigh Barty in 2018.

"She played incredible tennis today and it was really tough one. I expected this tennis from her, I'm really glad I was able to win this match," she said.

"In the second set, honestly, I wasn't rushing too much. After 5-2 I thought, 'okay whatever, we'll leave this set and move on'.

"But I was able to turn it around and super happy to win in straight sets against someone like her who really makes you work for every point."

Bouzas had some pedigree, beating then reigning Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova at the All England Club last year, while steadily climbing the rankings to her current 54.

Both players' radars were off in a seesawing opening set, with five service breaks, two against the top seed.

Sabalenka eventually reduced the error count to hold for 5-2 then again to take the set in a shaky 44 minutes.

The service wobbles returned in the second set and a wayward forehand gave Bouzas a break to move 3-1 ahead, then she held with an ace to turn the tables.

The Spaniard served for the set at 5-3, but Sabalenka dug herself out of a hole to break back when the 22-year-old netted a backhand.

Bouzas Maneiro had run out of gas, broken again before the Belarusian served out for the match.

Sabalenka is hunting down a rare hat-trick of consecutive Australian Open wins, a feat last achieved 26 years ago by Martina Hingis and only matched by four other women in history.

'QUEEN WEN' DEPOSED IN HUGE SHOCK

Last year's runner-up Zheng Qinwen was knocked out of the Australian Open on Wednesday in the biggest shock so far but defending champion Aryna Sabalenka and two-time winner Naomi Osaka battled into the third round.

Carlos Alcaraz was an emphatic victor in just 81 minutes over Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka as the Spaniard bids to lift the Melbourne crown for the first time.

Olympic champion Zheng was sent packing 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 by world number 97 Laura Siegemund, the second-oldest player in the draw at age 36.

"I knew I just had to play more than my best tennis. I had nothing to lose so I just told myself to swing free," said the German.

"It's tennis. Nothing more," said China's Zheng, 22, who was given two time violations and lost her cool as her tilt at a maiden major crown evaporated in only the second round.

On centre court, Sabalenka dropped her serve three times and faced 11 break points before overcoming Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-3, 7-5, rattling off the last five games in a row.

"She played incredible tennis today and it was a really tough one. I expected this tennis from her, I'm really glad I was able to win this match," said Sabalenka, who beat Zheng in the 2024 final.

The win kept the Belarusian world No 1 on course for a rare hat-trick of consecutive Australian Open titles, a feat last achieved 26 years ago by Martina Hingis and only matched by four other women in history.