ubet63 Australian Open: Naomi Osaka Overcomes Caroline Garcia To Avenge 2024 Defeat

Naomi Osaka rallied to book her place in the second round of the Australian Open, seeing off Caroline Garcia in three sets. (Full Coverage | More Tennis News)

The Frenchwoman triumphed when the players met at this exact stage last year, but Osaka avenged that defeat with a 6-3 3-6 6-3 victory on Monday.

Osaka, a two-time champion at Melbourne Park, patiently bided her time before getting a decisive break halfway through the first set and did not look back, getting another to wrap it up.

However, she was broken herself in the opening game of the second and struggled to regain her momentum. Garcia served well and deservedly pulled level, holding off Osaka's late attempt to hold onto her serve in the last game.

“The final was really intense; the Chinese were breathing down our necks throughout the game and made it really difficult for us to create a clear goal scoring chance,” Harmanpreet said in a Hockey India release.

Osaka had to dig deep for the win. After reeling off three games in a row to take command of the decider, she had to defend four break points before eventually holding out for the victory.

She will face Karolina Muchova, who won when the pair met in last year's US Open, in the second round. 

Same court. Same opponent. Different resultAfter losing to Caroline Garcia last year in the first round, Naomi Osaka flips the script this year to move into the second round! @wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/RQ8594jpMl

Data Debrief: Back on track

This was the third meeting between Osaka and Garcia at the Australian Open, with the Japanese just edging in front of their head-to-head. The last time she beat Garcia - in the second round in 2021 - Osaka went on to lift the trophy. 

The 27-year-old has now won eight of her nine opening rounds Down Under, with that sole loss coming in 2024 to Garcia. Overallubet63, she has an 80% win rate at the Australian Open (48-12).