Naomi Osaka's cheeky response to Australian Open troll
Naomi Osaka began her Australian Open defence in style on Monday.
The defending champion kicked things off on Rod Laver Arena against Marie Bouzkova by waltzing through to the second round of the tournament in just 80 minutes.
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The Japanese third seed sealed her place in the second round with a regulation 6-2 6-4 victory, before taking down an online troll as well for good measure.
Before she'd taken the court, Osaka's match was being prompted by the official Twitter account of the Australian Open.
Not everyone, as it turns out, was ecstatic abut the news.
The champ is back to kick off #AO2020 on Rod Laver Arena 🥳@naomiosaka looks to become the first woman since 2013 to defend the #AusOpen title. pic.twitter.com/GTHZsiqxYm
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 20, 2020
Boooooooooooo
— DiannePorrello (@dianne_porre) January 20, 2020
Responding to the Australian Open's post about Osaka kicking off proceedings, a user name Dianne wrote "booooooo".
The nasty barb didn't go unnoticed by Osaka, who took no time at all to hit back on social media.
A short time after her first round triumph, Osaka decided to have a cheeky crack at Dianne by rubbing in the fact that she'd won in style.
Osaka was joined by plenty of others fans in taking aim at Dianne over the unfriendly tweet.
u big mad or little mad Dianne? https://t.co/1UpoieGgS1
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) January 20, 2020
Stay classy, Dianne.
— Jack Carlson (@JackDiesel24) January 20, 2020
— Patz (@Grandpatz) January 20, 2020
How's it feel to have bad opinions, dianne
— ☆Shioka@Sleepy Panda☆ (@nefariousnyuu) January 20, 2020
Playing for the first time since blowing match points in her Brisbane International semi-final against Karolina Pliskova two weeks ago, Osaka came out firing.
She took the opening set with two service breaks before Bouzkova, making her Open debut on Melbourne Park's biggest stage, began to find her groove.
Osaka pleased by opening display
The 21-year-old fashioned several break points before finally capitalising to charge ahead 4-2 in the second set.
Forced to raise her game, Osaka responded to reel off four straight games to take the match in one hour, 20 minutes.
Naomi Osaka moves into the second round after a 6-2 6-4 straight sets win over Marie Bouzkova!
Watch: @Channel9
Stream: https://t.co/yizqD30Pp8#9WWOS #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/DKyEpLZVah— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) January 20, 2020
"It's really tough to play someone you've never played in the first round of a grand slam," Osaka said, declining to talk up her chances of going back-to-back.
"I just think you'll see, I guess, if I go far in this tournament. I hope I'm still standing here at the end of the week."
It was the 2018 US Open champion's 18th win from her past 19 grand slam matches on hard courts and set up a second-round clash with Zheng Saisai.
Zheng, the world No.42, earlier beat Russian qualifier Anna Kalinskaya 6-3 6-2 in her opener.
With AAP
