Naomi Osaka, the No. 7 seed and former World No. 1, began her 2025 season on a strong note with a straight-sets victory over Israeli qualifier Lina Glushko in the first round of the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand.
Osaka secured the win 6-4, 6-4 in just 85 minutes on Monday.
Osaka showcased her powerful serve, delivering seven aces despite four double faults, and capitalized on 3 of 7 break-point opportunities.
She will face Austria’s Julia Grabher in the second round. Grabher advanced with a hard-fought victory over Leyre Romero Gormaz, saving a match point to win 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7) in a dramatic third-set tiebreaker.
Elsewhere at the ASB Classic, Canada’s Rebecca Marino upset fourth seed and home favorite Lulu Sun, while fifth seed Clara Tauson of Denmark and eighth seed Katie Volynets of the United States also advanced. Other first-round winners included Japan’s Nao Hibino and Americans Ann Li and Bernarda Pera.
Brisbane International Highlights
In Australia, Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur opened her 2025 season with a hard-fought victory at the Brisbane International, defeating China’s Saisai Zheng 7-6 (5), 6-4.
The three-time Grand Slam finalist fired six aces and saved three break points to secure her spot in the second round, where she will face 14th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova.
Anastasia Potapova and Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina advanced after their opponents retired mid-match.
Additional first-round victories were claimed by China’s Yue Yuan, Russia’s Polina Kudermetova, Romania’s Anca Todoni, Australian Kimberly Birrell, and American Peyton Stearns.
