Miami Open: Naomi Osaka wins opener after Indian Wells exit

Naomi Osaka bounces back with first-round win in Miami after Indian Wells exit

Japan’s Naomi Osaka says she wants to move on from her traumatic early exit at Indian Wells after winning her opening match at the Miami Open.

The former world number one beat Australia’s Astra Sharma 6-3 6-4, 10 days after heckling from the crowd reduced her to tears during a second-round defeat by Veronika Kudermetova.

“I didn’t want to let anything bother me, no matter what happened,” said 24-year-old Osaka, who added that “the last match I played was not the greatest memory for me”.

“I wanted to prove that I could come back out here and compete, and no matter if I won or lost, to just know that I had the best attitude I could.”

Osaka’s win was her 50th in WTA 1000 tournaments and sets up second-round meeting with 13th seed Angelique Kerber.

BBC/Emmanuel Ukoh