‘Fight harder’ – Naomi Osaka achieves career first and sends warning to rivals ahead of showdown with World No.6

Naomi Osaka is slowly returning to her blistering herself.

As the 27-year-old gets back to grips with the sport after maternity leave, her latest Miami Open demonstrated exactly why she is a four-time major champion after all.

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It was one of those hard-fought comeback wins for OsakaCredit: Getty

Facing Hailey Bpatise in the third round on Saturday, Osaka found herself facing elimination after being a break down in the third set.

Osaka got over the hump after 2 hours and 59 minutes to win 7-6 (6), 3-6, 6-4 and complete the longest victory of her career in WTA main draws.

“This year I’ve played already a couple scrappy matches,” Osaka said.

“I think the fight kind of got me over it. Then I realized, like, you need to play a lot of matches like that to be I guess one of the great ones.”

In the deciding set No.98 ranked Baptisite was up a break, serving at 4-3 but Osaka fought back to convert her third break point, holding at love before breaking her for the fifth time.

Osaka would finish the game with 13 aces compared to Baptiste’s nine aces – the pair combined for the most aces in any women’s match in Miami so far.

“But I also feel like I was trying to be really positive and really vocal,” Osaka said.

“So I might have been a little annoying to her on that end, too. But I felt like I needed to do that to, I guess, push myself to continue.”

Osaka’s win here now sets up a tantalizing Round of 16 matchup.

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Naomi Osaka reminded reporters just how much fight she has left in herCredit: Getty

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Osaka had to overcome wildcard Baptisite to reach the third roundCredit: Getty

For the first time this season, Osaka will face a Top 10 player when she meets No.6 seed Jasmine Paolini on Monday.

Following her victory against Baptisite, Osaka reminded all of her opponents what it would take to beat her.

“If you are going to beat me, you’re just going to have to fight harder than me. Which should be quite difficult,” she told Tennis Channel.

Paolini faces Osaka after seeing her match against Ons Jabuer end early when the Tusinian retired with a left leg injury.

“In Miami it is,” Paolini said laughing. “Happy to be in the fourth round — never won two matches here.”

The Italian also knows what to expect from Osaka, despite never playing her.

“I think a fast match,” Paolini said.

“I’m going to expect big serve, big return and big shots, of course.

“I think I have to stay there every point, be solid and consistent. Not going to be easy because she’s playing so fast.”