Former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka rallied from a set down to beat Karolina Muchova 1-6, 6-1, 6-3 at the Australian Open on Wednesday, advancing to the third round at a Grand Slam for the first time since her return from maternity leave.

Four-time major champion Osaka took a 15-month maternity break and returned to tennis in January 2024 following the birth of her daughter Shai in July 2023.

She struggled for consistency last season but has looked promising this campaign, reaching the ASB Classic final in Auckland last week where she retired injured.

On Wednesday at Show Court Arena, Muchova swept the first set in about half an hour before Osaka responded with a double-break and closed out the second set with a rapid service game.

In the third set, the Japanese player continued to improve and wrapped up the match with 33 winners to 27 unforced errors, while Muchova hit 27 winners to 29 unforced errors.

Czech 20th seed Muchova defeated Osaka when the pair met at the U.S. Open last year but Osaka said she got her “revenge” this time at the Melbourne Park major.

“She crushed me in the U.S. Open when I had my best outfit ever,” two-time Australian Open winner Osaka joked in an on-court interview. “I was so disappointed. I was so mad.

“I’m glad I got my revenge. It’s not a bad thing, revenge is competitive. She’s one of the toughest opponents out there.”

After defeating Caroline Garcia in three sets in the first round on Monday, the unseeded Osaka had to endure a similar battle against Muchova in just two days.

“Honestly, it took everything,” Osaka said when asked how she turned the match around.

“I felt like I left everything I had on the court. I could have done better, but just to be back on these courts… It really makes my whole year.”

Clash Of Moms

Osaka will face Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic in a clash of moms in the third round on Friday. Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Bencic is playing in her first major since the birth of her daughter last year.

Bencic said she was looking forward to facing Osaka, whom she lost to in their last meeting at the Miami Open’s semi-finals in 2022. Bencic has won three of their five encounters against Osaka.

“I think it’s going to be a fun match,” Bencic said after her 6-1, 7-6(3) win over Suzan Lamens. “I think she beat me last time, but I have a good record against her.

“But it doesn’t really mean anything anymore. I feel good to play her. I think it’s going to be a nice match. Hopefully on a big court,” she added.

Zheng Crashes Out, Sabalenka Advances

In the other matches on Wednesday, Paris Olympics champion and last year’s runner-up Zheng Qinwen crashed out after a shock 7-6(3) 6-3 second-round defeat by unseeded German Laura Siegemund, the second-oldest player in the draw at age 36.

Two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka dropped her serve three times and faced 11 break points before beating Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-3, 7-5, while American seventh seed Jessica Pegula comfortably knocked out Belgium’s Elise Mertens 6-4, 6-2.

The in-form Coco Gauff, a title challenger to Sabalenka, will face Great Britain’s Jodie Burrage later in the day.