Naomi Osaka survived a second-set wobble to reach the Miami Open third round with a 6-0 6-7 (3-7) 6-1 victory over Yanina Wickmayer.
The top seed exited the competition at this stage last year after knocking out Serena Williams in the first round, but she forced her way into a clash with Hsieh Su-wei this time around.
Osaka asserted her authority on the contest in the early exchanges, putting in a near faultless display in a 22-minute first set.
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The Japanese conceded only two points on her own serve in the opener, but she faced a sterner test in the second.
Wickmayer fired over six aces on her way to forcing a tie-break, as seven of the 12 games went to deuce.
👏 @Naomi_Osaka_ claims this @MiamiOpen match 6-0, 6-7, 6-1 over Wickmayer.#大坂なおみ pic.twitter.com/cLY3lm0l5Z
— WTA (@WTA) March 22, 2019
It was the Belgian who eventually won out, despite dropping the first point of the breaker on her own serve.
But normal service was resumed in the deciding set, Osaka racing into a 3-0 lead before wrapping up the victory with a love service game.