MDP Live - Defending champion Naomi Osaka is still continuing her campaign at the 2022 Australian Open after overcoming American Madison Brengle.
The 13th seed bagged a 15th straight win at the Australian Open with a 6-0, 6-4 victory over world number 54 Brengle in the second round.
The Japanese national has also won 24 of his last 25 matches in Melbourne since the 2019 season, including winning the Australian Open title in 2019 and 2021, appearing in the semifinals of the 2021 Gippsland Trophy and the 2022 Melbourne Summer Set 1 (both ended in WO). and appeared in the third round of the 2020 Australian Open (lost to Cori Gauff).
The last time the former world number 1 faced 31-year-old Brengle was in 2013 at Rock Hill ITF W25, one day after his 16th birthday, which the US won 6-2, 6-2. But the Japanese national turned things around in their meeting this time.
Starting the first set, Osaka immediately stepped on the gas and only needed 20 minutes to win it by dropping only nine points, four of which occurred in the last game.
Brengle finally broke the deadlock when he claimed the second game of the second set and continued to level the playing field. But the 13th seed refused to give up, including claiming 12 of the last 13 points to advance to the third round.
“I remember when I was younger I wanted to watch him compete in a professional tournament. He is fierce enough to return every ball. So, I took the memories from that match and tried to tell myself that I might make a lot of unforced errors in this match, but it's something I have to do because I can't let it dictate to me."
"For me, I feel it's really important, even though I made a lot of mistakes at the net today (19/1), I think it's really important to keep moving forward."
"In that moment (when he lost his serve), of course I felt really disappointed with myself, but I also think that's the type of match I need to play in a Grand Slam, break down and find a way to fight back in the moment. -crucial moment.”
In the third round, Osaka will meet Brengle's compatriot, Amanda Anisimova, who beat the 22nd seed and Tokyo Olympic champion Belinda Bencic 6-2, 7-5.
Fifth seed Maria Sakkari also made her way into the third round thanks to a 6-1, 6-4 win over Zheng Qinwen. Greek Sakkari needed almost 2 hours to beat world number 287 Tatjana Maria in the first round, but she was solid against the Chinese.
Next, Sakkari will challenge 28th seed Veronika Kudermetova who beat Elena Gabriela Ruse 6-2, 7-5.
