A scrappy Naomi Osaka came from behind to beat Yuliia Starodubtseva 3-6 6-4 6-3 in the first round of the Miami Open on Tuesday for her first win since January's Australian Open.

Osaka dropped the first set and trailed 4-2 in the second against the tournament qualifier before finding her rhythm in front of a supportive crowd on a sunny day in South Florida.

"I knew that I wasn't playing too well, but I thought, let me try to stay on the court as long as possible because I consider Miami my home," said Osaka, who was born in Japan before moving to the U.S. at a young age.

"(In Indian Wells) I was just over-hitting a lot, so I tried to use my legs. I was going to run into every corner if I had to, and we were going to have to play for three hours if she was going to beat me.