By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer
MELBOURNE, Australia — Naomi Osaka thought for a few moments after losing a lopsided first set Wednesday (Tuesday PT), and it gave her the perspective she needed to turn things around and reach the third round of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time since 2022.
“I just told myself … if she beats me, 6-1, 6-1, then she’s the greatest player ever,” Osaka recalled after her 1-6, 6-1, 6-3 second-round victory at the Australian Open over No. 20 Karolina Muchova.