Naomi Osaka vs Antonia Ruzic Preview & Prediction | 2026 Australian Open | First Round

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Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka faces Antonia Ruzic in the first-round of the Australian Open.

Start date/time:

Venue: Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia

Surface: Outdoor hard

How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / USA – ESPN

How to watch online: UK – discovery+ / USA – ESPN+ & Tennis Channel

Tickets: Visit this link for the latest Naomi Osaka vs Antonia Ruzic ticket information

Naomi Osaka vs Antonia Ruzic prediction

Naomi Osaka is back inside the top 20 of the world rankings as she aims to add a third Australian Open title to her collection in the next two weeks. She showed flashes of her brilliance last season, making the final of the Canadian Open and also going close to a fifth Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows, losing a close semi-final against Amanda Anisimova. She won one match out of two at the United Cup earlier this month.

She begins her campaign in Melbourne against Antonia Ruzic. The Croatian is ranked 71 in the world. Ruzic failed to qualify for the Brisbane International but excelled in Hobart, winning three matches in a row without dropping a set to make the semi-finals. Her run would end against Elisabetta Cocciaretto, but Ruzic will take plenty of confidence from her recent displays.

Osaka’s big serve and aggressive baseline game makes her a threat to anyone on hard courts, and she should get off to a good start against Ruzic in the first-round.

Naomi Osaka vs Antonia Ruzic tip: Naomi Osaka to win 2-0