Despite Pavlyuchenkova managing to penetrate through her serve, Osaka would claim a double break on route to drawing first blood with little fuss after 37 minutes of play.
However, momentum swung back in favour of the Russian, which highlighted the inconsistencies in Osaka’s game.
This time, it was Pavlyuchenkova who would race into an early 3-0 lead after seizing on Osaka’s second serve.
Despite managing to break back at 3-2 down, Osaka would be left to rue two more opportunities in the ninth game.
Pavlyuchenkova punished those missed chances by taking the double break – and set – with a rasping winner.
The 34-year-old claimed five straight games to seize the advantage in the contest, with Osaka seemingly losing confidence in her shot placement.
Pavlyuchenkova claimed an early break in the decider and consolidated that with a comfortable hold to 15, leaving the four-time Grand Slam champion on the ropes.
But this sparked a much-needed comeback for Osaka, who took a crucial hold at 3-1 to rein in the Russian.
She then followed that up with a break back, sealed thanks to a brilliant winner of her own.
This was the first of three consecutive games for Osaka, before Pavlyuchenkova bounced back in a slugfest of a seventh game, staving off two break points to take a hard-fought hold at 4-3.
These two players were so evenly matched, as Pavlyuchenkova laid down the gauntlet to Osaka with an emphatic love to hold.
Osaka was serving to stay in the match, but failed to do so after sending a forehand long on an ultimately disappointing afternoon at SW19.
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