Osaka beats the bugs to power into Open 2nd round

Melbourne: Japanese fourth seed Naomi Osaka overcame a nervous start and distraction from flying bugs to ease into the Australian Open second round on Tuesday.
The US Open champion downed Magda Linette of Poland 6-4, 6-2 in just under an hour to set up a meeting with Tamara Zidansek of Slovakia in the next round. “I felt really nervous walking onto the court but then when I started playing I just felt really happy and grateful that I’m able to play in front of such a great crowd,” she said of her experience on Rod Laver Arena.
The 21-year-old said she enjoyed the warm Australian conditions but had to call for a ballboy’s help when a bug was fluttering on court. “I’m not really that great at catching them, I’d accidentally squish it maybe, so it’s probably not a good idea” she said. (AFP)