For the first time at a grand slam, Naomi Osaka has her dad watching on from the players’ box during the Australian Open.
Whether his court-side presence will help guide the world No. 4 to back-to-back titles in Melbourne remains to be seen, but it’s doing the trick so far as Osaka advanced to the third round on Wednesday, defeating China’s Saisai Zheng 6-2 6-4.
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With the victory, the Japanese star set up an enticing encounter with 15-year-old Coco Gauff, who fought back from losing the first set to beat Romania’s Sorana Cirstea 4-6 6-3 7-5.
It will be a rematch of last year’s US Open when Osaka defeated Gauff in the third round before falling to Belinda Bencic in the last 16.
‘I got fired up’
Osaka was relatively untroubled by Zheng.
The pair exchanged breaks at the start of the first set, only for Osaka to break twice more to take an early lead in the match.
Both players appeared to struggle to hold their serves in the second set – Zheng breaking twice to take a 4-2 lead, before Osaka swung the momentum back her way with two breaks of her own that eventually sealed victory in one hour and 20 minutes.
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“I got fired up when she got up 4-2 and people started clapping more,” said Osaka.
“I’ve been in this position on this court before. I didn’t want to go three sets.”
Osaka was victorious over Czech Republic’s Marie Bouzkova by the same scoreline earlier this week as she kicked off her title defense.
US Open rematch
As for Gauff, her route to the third round match-up was less straightforward.
The American, who defeated Venus Williams in the first round, fought back from losing the first set against Cirstea, and then again from trailing 3-0 in the third.
“I think I’ll be less nervous this time,” Gauff told reporters, referring to her upcoming match with Osaka.
“I think (at the) US Open I was nervous. It was my first time on (show court Arthur) Ashe. We’re both familiar with each other’s games. She plays really aggressive. This time coming in I’m going to be more aggressive.”
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Osaka earned plaudits after she consoled Gauff following their match in New York last year.
She has been complimentary of the teenager’s rise over the past year and repeated her praise this time around.
“It’s amazing what different personalities can bring to the sport,” Osaka was quoted in The Guardian as saying of Gauff.
“Since she is so young, she has brought so much interest and a new wave. She played doubles in one of the stadiums at the US Open last year and it was full.
“That is not normal and I don’t think it is something that can be taken for granted.”
Serena safely through
Elsewhere in the women’s draw, there were wins for world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty over Polona Hercog and Serena Williams, who defeated world No.70 Tamara Zidansek of Slovenia 6-2 6-3 as she bids to win a record-equaling 24th grand slam title.
Williams, who ended her long wait for a title in Auckland ahead of the Australian Open, hit 25 winners and 28 unforced errors, admitting afterwards that she knew she had to tighten up her game.
“It was a good match for me, she was a real good fighter and she didn’t just let me win,” said Williams.
“I hit many errors and had to battle through my own internal problems. I knew I had to play better, I couldn’t keep making unforced errors like that. I knew I had to step up, or it was going to be a really long evening for me.”
Defending men’s champion Novak Djokovic also progressed to the third round, comfortably defeating Japanese wildcard Tatsuma Ito 6-1 6-4 6-2, while third seed Roger Federer defeated Serbia’s Filip Krajinovic 6-1 6-4 6-1 to set up a clash with home favorite John Millman.
Millman defeated Federer at the 2018 US Open, a match which gives Federer bad memories.
“I’ve practiced a lot with him, I almost passed out when I played against him in New York, it was so hot,” said Federer.
“He’s a super good guy, an unbelievably tough opponent. There’s not many guys fitter than him out there and those are the guys I respect the most actually because he gets absolutely the most out of the game.”
