MIAMI – Naomi Osaka was applauded as she went up to the stadium and the 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 a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Australia’s Astra Sharma on Wednesday, the first full day of tennis Miami. Open.

In other matches in the women’s tournament, Canada’s Rebecca Marino was knocked out in the first round. After conceding the first set, the Czech Katerina Siniakova came from behind and won 3-6, 6-2, 6-1.

Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu, meanwhile, made a similar feat as they defeated American Hailey Baptiste 6-7 (6), 6-1, 6-1. On Thursday afternoon in the second round, Begu will have a meeting with the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, the first place.

At the beginning of Thursday, Lavalloise Leylah Fernandez, 18th place, will play her first match in the tournament, against the Czech Karolina Muchova.

Like at home

Osaka was born in Japan and now calls California her home, but spent most of her childhood in South Florida, just a few miles from where the Miami Open takes place.

“I think it’s a bit like a home tournament,” Osaka said, before her words were drowned out by more applause and applause from the audience.

It was Osaka’s first match since March 12 at Indian Wells, where she was annoyed by an inappropriate viewer comment.

If similar thoughts were expressed by fans watching Wednesday in a very empty stadium built on the site where the NFL Miami Dolphins play football, they were ignored or went unnoticed.

“Honestly, for me, I did not want to let anything bother me today, no matter what was going to happen,” Osaka said. The last game I played does not give me the best memories. »

It was then that someone decided to shout from the stands “We love you”.

Osaka certainly enjoyed that feeling.

She revealed Wednesday that she started seeing a therapist after the Indian Wells – “it only took a year after the French Open”, she joked, referring to the fact that she lost the Grand Slam on the ground to focus on her mental health last year. – and that he was waiting to be bagged.

“I’m glad I have people around me telling me to go in that direction,” Osaka said. Basically, I remembered everything he suggested to me: to take deep breaths and restore myself when needed. »

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

Osaka are 7-2 so far in 2022, a record that does not include a loss in early January in a pre-tournament Australian Open due to an abdominal injury.

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