MIAMI – Naomi Osaka was applauded as she went up to the stadium and this applause became even louder after she finished her work.

It is always nicer to play at home.

Osaka showed a level of play reminiscent of the one that raised it to No. 1 in the world a while ago, on the way to the 6-3, 6-4 victory over Australia Astra Sharma on Wednesday, as the curtain was lifted for Miami Tennis Open. .

Osaka is Japanese and now lives in California, but spent most of her childhood in South Florida, just a few miles from where the Miami Open takes place.

It was Osaka’s first match since March 12 at Indian Wells, when it was disturbed by an inappropriate comment from a spectator. This time, whether there were inappropriate comments or not, he never shook the stadium set up on the ground of the Miami Dolphins, an NFL team.

Osaka will face in the second round the German Angelique Kerber, former No. 1 in the world like her. Kerber, like the 32 seed in the 96-player tournament, said goodbye in the first round. She has 4-1 in her career against Osaka.

Osaka have improved to 7-2 so far in 2022, forgetting their retirement in early January in a pre-tournament Australian Open with an abdominal injury.

It is currently ranked 77th in the world, mainly due to its absence from many tournaments last year.

On the other hand, the Canadian Rebecca Marino, 116th player in the world, has a date this afternoon in the first round with the Czech Katerina Siniakova.