Former world number one Naomi Osaka wants to "play with the big dogs" after beating Yuliia Starodubtseva 3-6 6-4 6-3 in the Miami Open.

Naomi Osaka wants to “play with the big dogs” as she continues a stop-start comeback from having a baby and injury problems which have hampered her season so far. Osaka fought back from a set and a break down in her Miami Open first-round match to win 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 against Ukrainian qualifier Yuliia Starodubtseva.

A shock 6-4 6-4 loss to Camila Osorio in the first round at the Indian Wells Open earlier this month marked a poor return to action for Osaka, who labelled that performance as her worst ever