lucky time Auckland Open 2024-25: Naomi Osaka Makes A Winning Return Post Injury

Naomi Osaka kicked-off her season with a straight-sets victory over Lina Glushko at the Auckland Open. (More Tennis News)lucky time

Osaka, a four-time grand slam champion, heads into the new season ranked 57th in the world.

The former world number one hinted over the weekend that she will not hold back from calling a day on her playing career if she did not improve over the course of 2025, having reached just two WTA Tour-level quarter-finals last season.

Osaka began her preparations for the Australian Open with a 6-4 6-4 win over Israel's Glushko, the world number 221, on Monday, but the 27-year-old did not have it all her own way.

Speaking on India's performance the captain stated, "We played some intense matches against Argentina and Belgium in Antwerp, both in the same pool as us in the Paris 2024 Olympics. We played scintillating hockey in some moments while we struggled in a few others, but the team is constantly improving. We also used this opportunity to give some match experience to the younger players in the squad and improve our overall chemistry.”

India are coming into the London leg of the Pro League on the back of a mixed performance in Antwerp, Belgium where they won two hard-fought matches against Argentina and lost an equal number of games to the hosts.

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Second Round Booked @naomiosaka moves onto the next round in Auckland after a straight-sets victory over Glushko, 6-4, 6-4.#ASBClassic25 pic.twitter.com/6dH1JHpY9t

But after claiming victory in 85 minutes, Osaka was happy to have been made to work hard to secure her progress to round two.

"It was good to have to, I guess, scrap a little for the first round," Osaka said.

"I just kept trying to tell myself 'one point at a time,' and try not to get discouraged. Thankfully it came out in my favour at the end."

Julia Grabher is next up for Osaka.lucky time