Mon Mar 24 15:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Osaka Fights Back to Win First Match Since Australian Open
**Miami, FL** – Naomi Osaka overcame a slow start to secure a hard-fought victory in the first round of the Miami Open on Tuesday. The former world No. 1 defeated qualifier Yuliia Starodubtseva 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in a two-hour, 28-minute battle, marking her first win since January’s Australian Open.
Osaka, who considers Miami her home, fell behind after dropping the first set and trailing 4-2 in the second. However, she rallied, attributing her turnaround to a focus on using her legs and extending the match. A crucial service game in the third set, where she saved two break points, proved pivotal in securing the win.
The victory comes after Osaka withdrew from the Australian Open with an abdominal strain and suffered a first-round loss at Indian Wells earlier this month. She displayed improved movement and her signature power in Miami, setting up a second-round clash against No. 24 seed Liudmila Samsonova on Thursday. The pair have a 1-1 head-to-head record.
Other notable first-round winners included Alycia Parks, Katerina Siniakova, and Sorana Cirstea.
First Piper 