"Best hardcourt player since Serena Williams" - Fans give their verdict as Naomi Osaka powers past crafty Karolina Muchova in Australian Open 2R

Naomi Osaka made her way into the third round of the 2025 Australian Open with a remarkable comeback win over the crafty Karolina Muchova. The Japanese's victory delighted fans, with many suggesting that it marked the former World No. 1's finest performance since she returned to the tour after the end of her maternity leave.

Osaka set up a clash against Muchova after getting the better of Caroline Garcia in the first round. However, the first set of the Japanese's match against the Czech was completely lopsided in the latter's favor.

The four-time Major winner though, didn't let the 1-6 first-set loss affect her. Instead, she bounced back stunningly to win the second and third sets 6-1, 6-3 respectively.

Australian Open R2: Osaka def. [20] Muchova, 1-6 6-1 6-3 byu/pizzainmyshoe intennis

Tennis fans on Reddit marveled at Naomi Osaka's display, with one going as far as to suggest that the Japanese is the best women's player on hardcourts after the legendary Serena Williams. Of the American's 23 singles Major titles, 13 came on the hardcourts spanning the Australian Open and the US Open.

"Naomi Osaka. The best HC player since Serena What a match… that 3rd set was scintillating, prob the highest quality WTA set you’ll see all tourney," a fan wrote.

Comment byu/pizzainmyshoe from discussion intennis

"I'm genuinely so f**king thrilled. I know she's had better wins when you go by rankings, but this truly felt like Naomi's biggest win since she came back. Karo had her number last time and it looked like it was going to be the same story after the first set today, but Naomi really just locked the f**k in and took care of business," another commented.

Another fan referred to Osaka's last-gasp second-round loss to Iga Swiatek at the 2024 French Open.

"Best match she's played since her return (outside of the Iga match at RG)," they wrote.

Here are some more reactions from fans excited by Osaka's 2025 Australian Open win over Muchova:

"NAOMI OSAKA IS BACK It feels so good to see her back and playing at this level!!!" one fan said.

"NAOMI OSAKA REVENGE TOUR 2025 FIRST CAROLINE GARCIA WHO BEAT HER LAST YEAR AO AND NOW KAROLINA MUCHOVA WHO BEAT HER LAST USO," another added.

"I'm so f**king happy for her. the type of resilience that naomi demonstrated is few and far between," yet another wrote.

Osaka said during her post-match, on-court interview that her win over Muchova was akin to payback in light of the Czech's second-round win over the Japanese at the 2024 US Open.

---

"This was my little revenge" - Naomi Osaka after Australian Open 2R victory against Karolina Muchova

Naomi Osaka (Source: Getty)

The second-round clash between Naomi Osaka and Karolina Muchova at the 2024 US Open finished 6-3, 7-6(5) in the Czech's favor. Muchova would reach the semifinals before losing to eventual runner-up Jessica Pegula.

After her 2025 Australian Open victory over the Czech, Osaka said that the win felt as if she had exacted her "revenge" on Muchova.

"Man, it means a lot. She’s an incredibly difficult opponent for me to play. She crushed me in the US Open when I had my best outfit ever. I was so disappointed. I was so mad. I mean, this was my little revenge. It’s not a bad thing. Revenge is competitive, you guys. But yeah it means a lot because she is one of the toughest opponents out there," the four-time Major winner said.

Osaka is set to face Belinda Bencic in the fourth round of the 2025 Australian Open.