Watch: Naomi Osaka breaks into tears as massive crowd support at the Indian Wells spurs emotional reaction

After a thumping first-round victory against Sara Errani, the Japanese was up against a tough opponent (Liudmila Samsonova) in the second round. This did not stop her from playing at her best, as she registered another second-round victory. 

Thrilled by this win, Osaka broke down during the post-match interview while thanking the crowd. She expressed her gratitude towards the fans for supporting her and letting her grow in her own time. 

Thank you for supporting me throughout the years and letting me grow up on my own time and it's really nice to be back so thank you. An emotional Osaka said in the post-match interview 

Osaka will now face an in-form Elise Mertens for a chance into the top 16 of the Indian wells, as she aims to improve herself and get better before the next Grand Slam. 

Naomi Osaka beat Liudmila Samsonova to register her first top-15 win in over two years

Naomi Osaka, the returning champion, was rather disappointed by her performance at the start of the year. However, with more matches, the 4-time Grand Slam winner gained momentum continuing her fine form. 

Recently, she beat No.14 seed Liudmila Samsonova at the Indian Wells second round to register her first top-15 win in over two years. In a terrific all-round showing, the Japanese emerged victorious 7-5,6-3 to register another second-round win. This is indeed a huge milestone for Osaka, who is aiming at improving herself with every match. 

In the last tournament, she beat the No.15 seed Caroline Garcia in an exciting clash and progressed from there, making it until the quarterfinals. Now, she has made her way into the third round of the tournament and will look forward to upstaging Elise Mertens for the spot in the last 16.