Miami Open: Naomi Osaka beats Yuliia Starodubtseva in three sets
Former world number one Naomi Osaka hopes to “play with the Big Dog” again after having a three-set victory with Yuliia Starodubtseva in the first round of the Miami Open.
Osaka came from a match, beating Ukraine’s Starodubtseva 3-6 6-4 6-3 and won her first victory since the second round of the Australian Open in January.
This comes after the Japanese player’s first-round defeat against Camila Osorio in India two weeks ago in India’s Wells “The worst game I’ve ever played in my life.”
“I want to play with the big dog, I just see everyone playing great, and I want to do the same thing,” she said.
“But I have to remember that it’s a process.”
The four-time Grand Slam champion received several breaks from the performance, giving priority to her mental health and pregnant women’s rest.
She hasn’t surpassed the third round major since she recently won the Australian Open in 2021.
“I know I’m not doing well, but I thought, ‘Let me stay on the court as long as possible’ because I think Miami is my home.”
“In Wells, India, I just hit a lot of things so I tried to use my legs.
“I will come across every corner if I need to, and if she beat me, we will have to play for three hours.”
