The player who beat Zheng in the final 12 months ago, No. 1-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, stretched her Melbourne Park winning streak to 16 matches as she eyes a third consecutive title, beating No. 54 Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-3, 7-5 at Rod Laver Arena.

At her peak, the four-time Grand Slam champion played her best tennis in the toughest moments. In Melbourne, she did it again.

A four-time Grand Slam champion, Osaka returned from maternity leave last year and lost in the first or second round of all four major tournaments. The 27-year-old Japan native has not won any event on the WTA Tour since capturing her second Australian Open title to start 2021.

Naomi Osaka defeated No. 20 Karolina Muchova 1-6, 6-1, 6-3 on Wednesday to reach the third round of a major for the first time since the 2022 Australian Open.

Naomi Osaka beat Karolina Muchova 1-6, 6-1, 6-3 at the Australian Open, reaching the third round at a Grand Slam for the first time since her return from maternity leave.

For the first time in three years, the tennis world will see Naomi Osaka in the third round of a Grand Slam.

Naomi Osaka has admitted she was out for “revenge” against Karolina Muchova at the Australian Open. The two-time former champion came from a set down to beat the Czech star on Wednesday - months after Muchova ousted her from the US Open. Afterwards, Osaka explained why she was “so mad” the last time the world No. 20 beat her.

Distracted by a time penalty and unable to counteract No. 97-ranked Laura Siegemund's aggressive approach, Zheng Qinwen's loss in the second round Wednesday fell a long way short of last year's run to the Australian Open final.

Former Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka fought back from a set down Wednesday to reach the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time since the birth of her daughter in 2023, gaining a "little revenge" for defeat at the US Open.

Naomi Osaka is back in the third round of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time since 2022 and she got there with wins at the Australian Open over two women who blocked her path last year. Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen won't be repeating her surprising run to the Australian Open final after a second-round upset loss to No.