MELBOURNE, Australia — Naomi Osaka’s second-round encounter at the Australian Open began in an unfortunate manner. Within just 21 minutes, her forehand service return sailed far beyond the baseline, putting her down 5-0 early on in the match. As she headed to the sideline for the changeover, she took a seat and covered her head with a white towel, creating a barrier between herself and the pressures of the game. Even during the break between games, she managed to sneak a sip of water under the towel, completely encapsulated in her thoughts.

This wasn’t just any match for Osaka; she was going up against the 20th-seeded Karolina Muchova, a formidable opponent who was the runner-up at the 2023 French Open and had reached the semifinals of several other major tournaments, including the Australian Open in 2021. Muchova had bested Osaka in their last two encounters, but none of that history seemed to affect Osaka on this particular day. She shook off her discouraging start and rallied to triumph with a score of 1-6, 6-1, 6-3.

Osaka later shared insights about her mental approach during the match. “I was just trying to stay positive and avoid being overly critical of myself. The score in the first set felt extreme, but I realized there were key points I could have capitalized on,” she explained, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a positive perspective. This match represented a key moment in her career, as it marked her advancement to the third round of a major tournament for the first time since 2022.

In the past, achieving this stage in a Grand Slam might not have seemed significant for Osaka, who has previously dominated women’s tennis with four Grand Slam titles and a ranking of No. 1. However, her journey has been complicated with time off for mental health reasons, along with the birth of her daughter, Shai, in July 2023. Since making her return to competitive play a year ago, Osaka has shown promising glimpses of her former prowess, including a tight match against then-No. 1 Iga Swiatek at the French Open. Her recent victory against Caroline Garcia, a 2022 U.S. Open semifinalist, has further underscored this progress.

“I’m genuinely grateful for this achievement early in the year, especially considering last year’s difficulties in beating any seeded player in Grand Slams,” Osaka noted. She humorously remarked on her sense of “revenge” after overcoming both Garcia and Muchova in succession.

Next in line for Osaka is a showdown against Belinda Bencic, who has also embraced motherhood after welcoming her daughter, Bella, last year. Both athletes are known for their powerful playing styles, promising an exciting match ahead. “It’s sure to be an engaging game,” Bencic commented.

Although Muchova’s exit was notable, she was not the highest-seeded player to depart on that day. That title went to No. 5 Zheng Qinwen, who found herself losing focus following a time violation call and was ultimately defeated by 97th-ranked Laura Siegemund with a score of 7-6 (3), 6-3. Despite her struggles, Siegemund remained focused and determined to deliver her best performance.

Aryna Sabalenka, the No. 1-ranked player who had previously bested Zheng in last year’s final, continued her impressive run in Melbourne by extending her winning streak to 16 matches. She clinched a victory against No. 54 Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, finishing 6-3, 7-5.

Among other successful players on the women’s side were No. 3 Coco Gauff, No. 7 Jessica Pegula, No. 14 Mirra Andreeva, and No. 30 Leylah Fernandez. Gauff, the reigning U.S. Open champion, remains unbeaten in all seven matches this season and is set to face Fernandez next, who was the runner-up in the 2021 U.S. Open.

On the men’s side of the draw, Novak Djokovic reached a milestone by participating in his 430th career Grand Slam match, surpassing Roger Federer. Despite dropping a set for the second consecutive outing with his new coach Andy Murray in his corner, Djokovic secured a 6-1, 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-2 victory against Jaime Faria to move into the third round.

Other male players making progress included No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, who playfully dubbed himself a “serve bot” after delivering 14 aces in his match against Yoshihito Nishioka, winning decisively with a score of 6-0, 6-1, 6-4. However, the day was not without its share of upsets, as No. 6 Casper Ruud, a three-time major finalist, fell to 19-year-old Jakub Mensik, who advanced to the third round in what was a remarkable showing for the young player.

The Australian Open continues to captivate as both experienced champions and emerging talents showcase their skills on the grand stage.