'We love you!' - Naomi Osaka got a warm reception after her first round win at the Miami Open over Astra Sharma

Naomi Osaka said that having the best possible attitude was more important than winning after her first round victory in the Miami Open. Speaking in her first match since being heckled at Indian Wells last week, Osaka had pledged to not let anything get the better of her emotions and performance today. Ad/> The 24-year-old was subject to abuse from the crowd in California when a spectator shouted ‘Naomi, you suck’ after the opening game of her 6-0, 6-4 defeat against the No.

21 seed, Veronika Kudermetova. WTA MiamiOsaka kickstarts Miami campaign with straight sets win over Sharma3 HOURS AGO The Japan player was clearly affected by the abuse and held back tears in her post-match interview, saying that being heckled here brought up memories of Venus and Serena Williams being heckled in 2001. Osaka was more comfortable in her straight-set victory over Astra Sharma in Round 1 of the Miami Open, 6-3, 6-4.

After the match, chants of ‘Naomi, we love you!’ rang around the court. Osaka was visibly touched by the sentiment, pausing to acknowledge the crowd in her post-match interview. /> Speaking on court, Osaka said: “I just didn’t want to let anything bother me today.

The last match I played wasn’t the greatest memory for me. “I just wanted to come out here and compete. And no matter if I won or lost, to just know that I have the best attitude I could.” /> The match was over in one hour and 20 minutes as Osaka found her rhythm and her confidence.

The four-Grand Slam winner completed the match without being broken on serve as she powered past world No. 96 Sharma. She was dominant, only giving up two points behind her first serve.