• Naomi Osaka in action during her first round match against Sloane Stephens on day 4 at the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, California, on Thursday. | JAYNE KAMIN-ONCEA / USA TODAY / VIA REUTERS
    Naomi Osaka in action during her first round match against Sloane Stephens on day 4 at the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, California, on Thursday. | JAYNE KAMIN-ONCEA / USA TODAY / VIA REUTERS

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Naomi Osaka battled windy conditions and an in-form Sloane Stephens to earn a 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 first round victory at Indian Wells on Thursday.

In a showdown of former U.S. Open champions, Osaka struggled in the first set amid the mighty gusts in her first match since January.

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