Australian Open: Naomi Osaka hits ground running in Melbourne with opening win

Defending champion Naomi Osaka began her Australian Open campaign with a smooth victory over young Colombian Camila Osorio, while world No 1 Ashleigh Barty almost made the perfect start in Melbourne for a second year in a row.

Having taken four months off at the end of last season, Osaka returned to the match court two weeks ago and has hit the ground running in Melbourne, winning 6-3 6-3 on Rod Laver Arena.

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The 13th seed raced into a 5-0 lead against 20-year-old Osorio, who was making her Australian Open debut, before being pegged back to 5-3.

Osaka stopped the rot, though, to take the opening set and kept her nose in front through the second to clinch victory.

"It always feels special to come back here," said Osaka, who is seeking her third Melbourne Park title.

"I thought she played amazing. Overall I'm just happy to be here, I'm happy to see everybody in the audience and I hope we gave you a great performance."

Are Osaka & Barty heading for a collision course?

Osaka defeated surprise finalist Jennifer Brady to win the title last year but faces an uphill battle this time after a draw that could mean a clash with top seed Barty in the fourth round.

Twelve months ago, Barty defeated Danka Kovinic without losing a game and she had a match point for the same scoreline against Lesia Tsurenko.

But the Ukrainian qualifier at least managed to get on the board before the top seed completed a 6-0 6-1 victory.

Barty is the title favourite and is also feeling refreshed after shutting her season down following the US Open.

She began her season in perfect fashion with a title in Adelaide last week, and said: "I'm excited to be back home in Australia, excited to be back playing.

"Obviously it was really nice to get a few matches in Adelaide and kind of roll on some momentum and know that I'm coming in here playing well. I'm just chomping at the bit to get after it."

Barty is bidding to follow up her Wimbledon title last year by becoming Australia's first home singles champion since Chris O'Neal in 1978.

"I just have to hope that everyone understands that I'm giving it my best crack," said the 25-year-old, who reached the semi-finals two years ago.

Madison Keys, who returned to the winner's circle with victory at Adelaide International 2 at the weekend, continued her excellent form by knocking out 2020 champion Sofia Kenin 7-6 (7-2) 7-5,

Maria Sakkari withstood a late charge from Tatjana Maria to beat the German 6-4 7-6 (7-2).

"I didn't feel great out there, but I found a solution, found a way to win," Sakkari said afterwards.

"She has a tricky game that sometimes it makes you feel uncomfortable inside the court. Yeah, it was a decent match. I kind of, like, survived."

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Elina Svitolina, a two-time Australian Open quarter-finalist in 2018 and 2019, also advanced, beating Fiona Ferro, 6-1 7-6 (7-4) in an hour and 32 minutes.

Reigning Olympic gold medallist Belinda Bencic won a battle between former top 10 players, defeating France's Kristina Mladenovic 6-4 6-3.

The Swiss player will next face Amanda Anisimova, who won her second career WTA singles title two weeks ago at Melbourne Summer Set 2, battling past Dutch qualifier Arianne Hartono 2-6 6-4 6-3.

French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova kicked off her campaign by dispatching Andrea Petkovic in 67 minutes, hitting 28 winners en route to a clinical 6-2 6-0 victory.

Double Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka beat Panna Udvardy 6-3 6-1 for her first victory in Melbourne in six years, while Wang Qiang upset American teenager Coco Gauff 6-4 6-2 for her first win on the Tour since last year's Roland Garros.

Gauff, who is still only 17, said: "I think just everything disappointed me about today. I feel like in the pre-season I worked really hard and I felt like I was ready to have a good run here. Today I just didn't perform well."

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