Naomi Osaka Wins Solid Return at Indian Wells

Osaka bounces back strong at Indian Wells

Japanese star beats Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva 7-5, 6-2 in first match since Australian Open injury.

Four-time Grand Slam champ advances to third round, set to face Camila Osorio...

Naomi Osaka's back, and she's looking sharp. The four-time Grand Slam champ got her Indian Wells return off to a solid start, beating Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva 7-5, 6-2.

Osaka admitted she wasn't sure what to expect from her 97th-ranked opponent, but she delivered a confident performance to book her spot in the third round. 

Now, Osaka's got a tougher task ahead - facing Camila Osorio, who battled past Iva Jovic 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-3.

“I was really disappointed (at the Australian Open), because it's something that I have done to myself before, and I feel like every year I go through that specific injury.

“Every year I can kind of feel it starting to happen. I was just really disappointed in myself, and then ironically, we were training and I injured myself -- I did another injury.

“Hopefully, that's enough injuries for the whole year,” Osaka said. “I'm just grateful to be out here and be playing.”

Full speed ahead 🐆@naomiosaka advances to Round 3 in her return to Indian Wells!#TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/cejCdYzT8f

— wta (@WTA) March 7, 2026

Osaka stormed out to a 5-1 lead, winning the first four games, but Jimenez Kasintseva fought back, breaking twice to level the set.

Despite the wipes, Osaka's happy she's bounced back from last year's disastrous first-round loss to Camila Osorio, which she called the “worst match I've ever played in my life.”

“Last year I didn't do too well here, so I think I already exceeded the previous year. So I just hope that I can keep going,” she said.

Her build-up to Indian Wells wasn't exactly confidence-boosting, having pulled out of her Australian Open third-round match with an abdominal injury. “It wasn't, like, too positive,” she said.