Osaka 'ready for the battle' after reaching Auckland quarter-finals

Osaka needed just under an hour and a half to see off the Austrian 7-5 6-3 to reach the last eight of a competition for the first time since 's-Hertogenbosch in June.

So far this season, the Japanese has not dropped a set, having also cruised past Lina Glushko in straight sets in the first round.

She had to overcome a brief rain delay on Wednesday but showed off some perfect serving, at 64%, while also saving both break points she faced on her way to clinching the first set.

Locked in @naomiosaka defeats Grabher in straight sets 7-5, 6-3 and is into the quarterfinals!#ASBClassic pic.twitter.com/8qZXGloyGa

— wta (@WTA) January 1, 2025

"I've never played her before, so just getting into the groove of things is really difficult, especially because she doesn't have a traditional game style," Osaka told reporters.

"After the rain delay,y I was able to focus on the things I wanted to focus on a lot more, and I think that showed in the second set.

"I've said this for years, I'm not the most talented player, but I feel like I work the hardest and that gives me a lot of confidence. But when you get into a fistfight with another person, in the end, it's who wants it more.

"Last year it was really difficult for me to get that mindset, and you could see that in a lot of my matches. I think the tennis was there throughout the whole entire year, but it was more of a mindset thing. I think now, here, I think I'm ready for the battle."