Naomi Osaka is finally finding her groove again. After a maternity break and a shaky 2024 season filled with early exits, the two-time Australian Open champion has made it to the third round in Melbourne. For a player who has struggled to regain her form, this milestone is a breath of fresh air. But the road hasn’t been easy—her second-round match against Karolina Muchova was a grind that left her too drained to even think about what’s next.

Osaka will face Belinda Bencic in the second round of the Happy Slam. Bencic leads their head-to-head record 3-2, including a memorable win at the 2019 US Open, but Osaka came out on top in their most recent encounter at the 2022 Miami Open. Their upcoming third-round clash promises to be a battle of grit and determination, as both players push to prove they’re still among the best in the world. But Osaka isn’t looking forward to that match just yet, after a grueling first-round encounter.

In her post-match conference, when asked about her next opponent, the Japanese star was completely blank. She said, “I’m so sorry, the match I just played took so much out of me that I can’t even think about the next match I’m going to play. If I had to think about it, I don’t remember the year we played our last match together. Someone would have to tell me, but I know she’s an incredibly tough player. She fights a lot.”

The Osaka-Bencic rivalry has always been compelling, and this time, it comes with an added layer of meaning. Both players are now mothers returning to professional tennis. Osaka welcomed her daughter, Shai, in July 2023, while Bencic gave birth to her daughter, Bella, in April 2024. “I think it’s really cool that she also had a baby and came back as well,” Osaka said. “She seems to be doing really well, so I think it’s going to be fun,” Osaka remarked.

This is the first time the four-time Grand Slam champion has reached the third round of any Slam after her maternity leave in 2023. She was eliminated in the first round of the Australian Open last year by Carolina Garcia. The 27-year-old then faced second-round exits at the rest of the Slam tournaments.

However, the former World No.1 has managed to equal the scores for her 2024 US Open loss at the ongoing Australian Open.

Naomi Osaka fulfills her ‘revenge’ against Karolina Muchova

Naomi Osaka’s path to the third round wasn’t without its challenges. Her second-round match against Muchova was a revenge story. Osaka had lost to the Czech star at last year’s US Open in straight sets, a defeat that stung—not just because of the loss but because of her kimono-inspired bow outfit. “She crushed me at the US Open when I had my best outfit ever. I was so mad,” Osaka joked to the crowd. “This was my little revenge. It’s not a bad thing, guys—revenge is competitive. She’s one of the toughest opponents out there.”

In Melbourne, however, Osaka turned the tables. She dropped the first set 1-6 but roared back to win the next two 6-1, 6-3. The win wasn’t just about avenging her earlier loss; it was also a reminder of what she’s capable of. “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,” she said.

With the Muchova hurdle cleared, Osaka now faces a bigger challenge in Bencic. Their third-round match, scheduled for Friday, January 17, is more than just another match; it’s a clash of resilience and and the hunger to reclaim past glory. Can Naomi Osaka take another step toward rewriting her comeback story?