Naomi Osaka continues Australian Open defence with win over Madison Brengle

Defending Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka has shown signs of her best form in a 6-0, 6-4 defeat of American Madison Brengle on Rod Laver Arena.

Osaka was virtually untouchable in the first set, which she won in just 20 minutes, and while she endured some shaky moments in the second, her victory always seemed assured.

The four-time major champion will play another American, Amanda Anisimova, in the last 32, with the victor moving through to a possible match-up with world number one Ash Barty in the fourth round.

Barty faces Italian 30th seed Camila Giorgi in the third round on Friday.

Osaka said she was satisfied with the quality of her returns against Brengle.

«I want to say I returned pretty well,» the Japanese 13th seed said in her courtside interview.

«That's not my usual step but I have been really working on it during the off-season, so I'm really glad it came in handy today.»

Osaka hit the ground running in the first set. She controlled the game brilliantly from the baseline, using the strength of her groundstrokes to dictate terms to Brengle.

The former world number one also chose the right moments to approach the net, leaving her opponent with few options to play herself into the match.

Ash Barty moves a step closer to a possible Australian Open match-up with defending champion Naomi Osaka, dropping just two games in her defeat of qualifier Lucia Bronzetti in the second round.

After being restricted to just nine points in the first set, Brengle found her range in the second.

She finally got on the board when she won her first game to level at 1-1, celebrating the moment by raising her arms in jubilation as the Rod Laver Arena crowd warmly applauded.

Brengle had a series of break points during Osaka's next two service