Osaka defeated Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia with 6–3, 3–6, 6–3 in the first round, but said afterwards that she had difficulty focusing on the match.
It's very hard for me because now my home is more of a home since I have more memories with my daughter, says Osaka.
The 27-year-old former world number one, two-time Australian Open winner, competes for Japan, but lives in Los Angeles. She has a small daughter named Shai.
I got help with someone going home to the house and fetching her birth certificate, says Osaka.
At least 24 people have been killed in the severe fires that have turned life upside down in the USA's second-largest city over the past week.
Neighborhoods have burned down and thousands of people have been evacuated.
Osaka says that everyone in her family is unharmed, but that she is following the drama from Melbourne.
I check the fire map as soon as I get the chance to see what's happening. It feels tough and I don't think I'll be going back to Los Angeles directly after the tournament, it doesn't feel safe.
