U.S. Open champion Naomi Osaka is through to the third round at Melbourne Park after beating Tamara Zidansek 6-2, 6-4.
The fourth-seeded Osaka recovered a service break in the second set and, at 4-4, she broke Zidansek’s service to love. Osaka hit an ace to save a break point in the last game and clinched it on her second match point with a service winner.
Osaka began the year with a semifinal appearance at the Brisbane International, losing to eventual finalist Lesia Tsurenko
She has reached the semifinals at four of her past five tournaments.