Osaka beat Tamara Korpatsch 6-3 7-6 in the first round of the Brisbane International after 15 months off the court

Elsewhere, there was an early exit for world number five Stefanos Tsitsipas.

The world number one recorded another straight-sets win as she eyes a deep run in SW19.

The Italian will take on Daniil Medvedev while Petra Kvitova takes on Elena Rybakina in the women’s final.

The Australian Open champion will next face another meeting with Barbora Krejcikova.

Title favourite Swiatek defeated Colombian Osorio 6-2 6-3 as rain prevented play outside.

Karolina Pliskova was the big seed to exit the women’s draw on Thursday while Kirsten Flipkens bowed out.