WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka made a successful return to the court after a nearly three-month absence Monday in the first round of the ASB tennis classic in Auckland, undeterred by protests outside the stadium against her Israeli opponent.

Osaka defeated qualifier Lina Glushko 6-4, 6-4 in a tough battle in her first match since October, when a back injury at the China Open ended her 2024 season.

On Monday, all the hallmarks of Osaka’s game were on display: the powerful serve, powerful groundstrokes, especially from the forehand side, and the aggressiveness. She appeared relaxed and at ease on the pitch, with no signs of her recent injury.

Osaka had to contend with a swirling wind in midfield and delays in the game caused by chants from a small group of protesters that could be clearly heard in the stadium. There was a lengthy break as Osaka was about to serve the first set when Glushko had to leave the court with a hip injury.

“I just heard a lot of shouting and then people on the sidelines told me there were protests,” Osaka said.

“I had no idea what the score was most of the time. “I kept trying to tell myself one point at a time and not get discouraged.

“Luckily it worked out in my favor in the end.”

Osaka was supported on the sidelines by her new coach Patrick Mouratoglou, who previously had a long-standing collaboration with Serena Williams.

She defeated Glushko in the third game of the first set and won confidently 6:4.

The second set was tighter. Osaka beat Glushko in the third game, but Glushko converted her only break point of the game to level the score at 2-2.

Glushko held serve in the seventh game to lead 4-3, but Osaka seemed to be getting stronger at that point, holding with two aces to make it 4-4, breaking to make it 5-4 and holding at love to make it 5-4 to secure victory.

Her serve was solid throughout. She hit seven aces and won 74 percent of first serve points. Her first serve averaged about 180 km/h (111 miles per hour) and her slice about 140 km/h (87 miles per hour).

“I think she’s a really great opponent. I’ve never played against them,” Osaka said. “It was good that I had to fight a little in the first round.”

---

AP Tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.