A relieved Naomi Osaka blew off some nervous tension to be the first big gun through to the second round of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park.
Osaka, the 2019 champion and two-time US Open winner, also dispelled any fitness concerns with a crushing 6-1 6-2 victory over Russia's three-time quarter-finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova on Monday.
The 23-year-old Osaka had withdrawn from her Open warm-up event with a shoulder niggle, but advanced comfortably to a second-round clash with Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia.
Before arriving in Australia last month Osaka had not played since her second US Open triumph last September.
After two weeks in a quarantine training bubble, the Japanese star posted three wins at the Gippsland Trophy before opting out of her semi-final on Saturday.
Osaka said her withdrawal was merely precautionary after a long period out of action.
"Physically, I feel like everyone; their bodies are shocked coming in and playing matches so suddenly after such a long break," she said.
"But we're all sort of getting used to it and, all in all, everyone's really happy to be here."
Osaka needed an hour and 33 minutes to get past Pavlyuchenkova, a formidable early-round opponent ranked No.39 in the world and boasting the rare distinction of having reached the last eight of all four grand slams during her career.
"Definitely I was really nervous coming into this match," Osaka said.
"It's always really hard to play someone that good in the first round.
"I feel like it might have also helped in a way because I calmed my nerves because I felt like I couldn't afford to be that nervous.
"But, yeah, it was a tough match. So I'm happy to play well.
"Hopefully I'll do well here but I'm just here to have fun."
