Osaka channels grit to edge Ruzic in Australian Open opener
Naomi Osaka’s flashy entrance at Rod Laver Arena gave way to a tense three-set scrap against Antonia Ruzic, where the four-time major winner clawed back from a break down to advance in the Australian Open first round.
Under the Rod Laver Arena lights, Naomi Osaka arrived with a flourish—a parasol, veil, train, and butterfly fascinator inspired by a jellyfish, nodding to her 2021 Melbourne triumph. The No. 16 seed, carrying the weight of a season’s ambitions, faced Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic in the Australian Open first round on January 20, 2026. What began as glamour turned into a 2-hour-22-minute grind, Osaka prevailing 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 after rallying from a break down in the decider against the 23-year-old on her birthday.
Ruzic, ranked a career-high No. 65 after her first WTA semifinal in Hobart, made her Australian Open debut in just her second Grand Slam main draw. She matched Osaka’s baseline firepower, her flat forehands down the line piercing defenses on the plexicushion hard courts. The Japanese player’s powerful groundstrokes met unyielding returns, turning the night into a test of endurance amid the crowd’s rising energy.
“She’s an amazing player, I’d never played her before and I hope to not see her on the other side of the net!” said Osaka with a laugh afterwards. “But if I do, I’m pretty sure we’re going to keep playing some amazing matches.”
Glamour fades into baseline firestorms
Osaka surged early, dropping just three points in the first three games, her inside-out forehands pinning Ruzic deep with heavy topspin. The Croat settled quickly, absorbing pace and redirecting crosscourt, her confidence from Hobart translating into prolonged exchanges. On the fast Melbourne surface, these rallies thrilled the stands, with Ruzic’s footwork keeping her in striking distance.
Osaka dominated shorter points, taking 62 of those four shots or fewer to Ruzic’s 47, her 1–2 patterns—serve into a crosscourt forehand—exploiting the court’s speed. Longer battles shifted the momentum; Ruzic edged 45-40 in five-shot rallies, forcing 85 high-octane sequences that tested the seed’s resolve. The Zagreb native’s down-the-line forehand ended points sharply, her debut energy refusing to yield against a former world No. 1.
Baseline rally specialist Ruzic 💥@wwos • @espn • @tntsports • @wowowtennis • #AO26 pic.twitter.com/1zu1GCce8Y
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 20, 2026
Australian Open: Scores | Draws | Order of play captured the unfolding drama in real time. Osaka varied her spin, dipping into slice backhands to disrupt Ruzic’s rhythm and reset amid the mounting pressure. The arena’s buzz mirrored the tactical chess match, each prolonged point amplifying the stakes of an early-round escape.
Decider tests mental and tactical depths
Ruzic showed fortitude in the third, fending off three break points to trail 3-0 and another to make it 3-1, her returns staying low on the predictable bounce. She broke for 4-3 when Osaka’s backhand sailed wide on an inside-out attempt, the Croat’s flat hitting thriving in the moderate pace. Osaka’s face tightened, the psychological weight of sustaining her major pedigree pressing in as the crowd leaned forward.
Osaka broke back immediately, her heavy topspin forehands pushing Ruzic deep and exposing forehand errors. At 4-4, she fired four unreturned serves, two aces wide on the ad side, each cry of “c’mon!” punctuating the shift. The final game saw Ruzic’s forehand falter with three unforced errors, Osaka sealing it with a backhand winner down the line on match point, claiming 12 of the last 15 points.
This surge wasn’t mere tactics; it reflected Osaka’s ability to harness the arena’s energy, transforming doubt into focused aggression on the hard courts. Ruzic’s rally tolerance promised future threats, but the seed’s experience tilted the balance. @wwos • @espn • @tntsports • @wowowtennis • #AO26 highlighted the intensity, with the 18-shot decider rally showcasing Osaka’s precision under fire.
Escape sets stage for deeper run
Osaka’s adjustments—from aggressive inside-in forehands to safer crosscourt patterns and sharper serving—proved decisive on a surface where errors punish. The victory keeps her No. 16 seeding intact, boosting her path through the draw’s hard-court specialists. Next faces Sorana Cirstea, who rallied from a set down to beat Eva Lys 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, another baseline test for Osaka’s evolving form.
The hard-fought win sends a clear message into the Australian Open, Osaka’s resilience sharpened for the weeks ahead. Her power game suits Melbourne’s bounce, but sustaining this mental edge will define her 2026 campaign. As the tournament heats up, this opener positions her as a contender weaving glamour back into grit.
