<p>Naomi Osaka marched confidently into the third round of the Australian Open on Wednesday, overpowering Caroline Garcia 6-2 6-3 with a rock-solid performance at the Rod Laver Arena.</p>.<p>The Japanese third seed fired six aces at her French opponent in the first set and four in the second. Garcia was unable to muster up a single break point over the contest.</p>.<p>The 2019 Australian Open champion said she had started the match wary of the threat posed by Garcia, a former world number four now ranked 43rd.</p>.<p>"I needed to stay focused the whole match," said Osaka.</p>.<p>"She's a tricky player and you never know what she's going to come up with. Yes, just staying within myself."</p>.<p>Osaka lit up the court like a beacon in a fluro orange skirt as Garcia's cyan outfit all but disappeared into the blue background of the playing surface.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/tennis/ominous-djokovic-resumes-bid-for-ninth-australian-open-crown-949571.html" target="_blank">Read | Ominous Djokovic resumes bid for ninth Australian Open crown</a></strong></p>.<p>The showpiece court was only half full on the sort of balmy summer evening that in normal times would have guaranteed a full house given the talent on show.</p>.<p>Wary fans have stayed away as a small coronavirus outbreak linked to a hotel near Melbourne airport caused neighbouring South Australia state to shut its borders as of Wednesday night.</p>.<p>"Thank you for coming out," Osaka said to the crowd after the match.</p>.<p>"It really means a lot to us."</p>.<p>Osaka's post-match comments were the usual mix of pleasantries and personal - "I'm just staying in my room watching Netflix" - but there was nothing whimsical about her performance.</p>.<p>The 23-year-old found the corners with her shots as she fired 23 winners over the one-hour contest, wrapping up the victory with an emphatic 181 km per hour (121 mph) ace.</p>.<p>The US Open champion, whose last defeat in a WTA tournament was to Coco Gauff in the third round at Melbourne Park last year, will next face Ons Jabeur.</p>.<p>"She's really funny and nice and I think the match I play against her will be really difficult, but I'm looking forward to it," she smiled. </p>
<p>Naomi Osaka marched confidently into the third round of the Australian Open on Wednesday, overpowering Caroline Garcia 6-2 6-3 with a rock-solid performance at the Rod Laver Arena.</p>.<p>The Japanese third seed fired six aces at her French opponent in the first set and four in the second. Garcia was unable to muster up a single break point over the contest.</p>.<p>The 2019 Australian Open champion said she had started the match wary of the threat posed by Garcia, a former world number four now ranked 43rd.</p>.<p>"I needed to stay focused the whole match," said Osaka.</p>.<p>"She's a tricky player and you never know what she's going to come up with. Yes, just staying within myself."</p>.<p>Osaka lit up the court like a beacon in a fluro orange skirt as Garcia's cyan outfit all but disappeared into the blue background of the playing surface.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/tennis/ominous-djokovic-resumes-bid-for-ninth-australian-open-crown-949571.html" target="_blank">Read | Ominous Djokovic resumes bid for ninth Australian Open crown</a></strong></p>.<p>The showpiece court was only half full on the sort of balmy summer evening that in normal times would have guaranteed a full house given the talent on show.</p>.<p>Wary fans have stayed away as a small coronavirus outbreak linked to a hotel near Melbourne airport caused neighbouring South Australia state to shut its borders as of Wednesday night.</p>.<p>"Thank you for coming out," Osaka said to the crowd after the match.</p>.<p>"It really means a lot to us."</p>.<p>Osaka's post-match comments were the usual mix of pleasantries and personal - "I'm just staying in my room watching Netflix" - but there was nothing whimsical about her performance.</p>.<p>The 23-year-old found the corners with her shots as she fired 23 winners over the one-hour contest, wrapping up the victory with an emphatic 181 km per hour (121 mph) ace.</p>.<p>The US Open champion, whose last defeat in a WTA tournament was to Coco Gauff in the third round at Melbourne Park last year, will next face Ons Jabeur.</p>.<p>"She's really funny and nice and I think the match I play against her will be really difficult, but I'm looking forward to it," she smiled. </p>