Naomi Osaka showed no signs of the abdominal strain that hindered her preparation as the two-time Australian Open champion marched into the second round.
In a repeat of their 2024 round one match, Osaka gained revenge on French former world No. 4 Caroline Garcia, winning 6-3 3-6 6-3 in a gritty display.
The former world No.1 was forced to withdraw from the Auckland Classic final earlier this month after winning the first set 6-4, due to the injury but moved well in the late Monday night match on Rod Laver Arena.
"It's a big coincidence playing her (Garcia) again and it felt a little familiar," said the 27-year-old, adding she was "shocked" to be scheduled on the main court following Novak Djokovic's match.
"Definitely playing so many matches in Auckland helped.
"I didn't do much serving after the injury but I was pretty happy with how it went."
Last year's first round exit was her first major since giving birth to her daughter Shai.
A year on, with a new coach in former Serena Williams mentor Patrick Mouratoglou, and a new mindset, the Japanese superstar said pre-tournament that she felt positive about her chances of adding to her Open titles won in 2021 and 2019.
The Auckland decider was her first WTA final in almost three years while she's climbed the rankings to world No.50.
The Los Angeles resident wrote "LA" and drew a heart in blue ink on the lens of a courtside TV camera after her win, also revealing she had sent someone to fetch her daughter's birth certificate from their home as the wildfires drew closer.
"I was watching the map and the fire, like, three blocks from my house," she said. "I'm sending all my love to LA. We hear about fires, but I didn't know how devastating it could be."
Osaka will next face another familiar foe, 20th-seeded Karolina Muchova, who beat her in last year's US Open.
