Naomi Osaka, the former world No. 1 and two-time Australian Open champion, returned to Grand Slam tennis after a 15-month maternity leave. However, her comeback was met with disappointment as she suffered a first-round loss to Caroline Garcia at the Australian Open on Monday. Osaka’s performance, although showcasing flashes of her previous dominance, was hindered by rustiness and a lack of accuracy in clutch moments.
A Big Challenge against an Aggressive Baseliner
Caroline Garcia proved to be a formidable opponent for Osaka in their encounter on Rod Laver Arena. The French 16th seed shares a similar aggressive baselining style with Osaka, making her a challenging matchup for the Japanese superstar. Osaka, who had only returned to tournament tennis two weeks ago, struggled to find her rhythm and rediscover her accuracy after the extended break.
The match started on a difficult note for Osaka, as she faced a break point in the fifth game, which Garcia capitalized on with ease. Despite having an opportunity to break back in the eighth game, Osaka’s error-strewn backhand resulted in another lost chance. Garcia, demonstrating her strong serving skills, held her ground with consecutive aces and ultimately claimed the first set.
Osaka showed glimpses of her former self in the second set, winning her first three service games to love. However, Garcia’s exceptional serving prevented Osaka from mounting any significant pressure. In the end, the set was decided in a tiebreaker. Garcia managed to maintain her consistency, racing to a commanding lead and sealing the victory when Osaka faltered once again with a backhand error.
In the post-match news conference, Naomi Osaka expressed her frustration with her recent string of losses and admitted that her comeback did not unfold as she had hoped. Despite her disappointment, she maintained her trademark optimism and “delusion,” acknowledging that her belief in herself is what propels her to success in tournaments.
Respect from Competitors
Caroline Garcia, Osaka’s opponent, commended the Japanese star’s return to the court after a 15-month absence. Garcia acknowledged Osaka’s remarkable performance so soon after giving birth and expressed admiration for her resilience. Osaka joined Angelique Kerber and Caroline Wozniacki as past Australian Open champions who made their return to Melbourne Park as mothers.
Osaka’s loss to Garcia marked her earliest exit in eight appearances at the Australian Open. Additionally, it was her third consecutive first-round defeat at a Grand Slam, following her previous disappointments at the French Open and US Open in 2022. However, Osaka emphasized that she intends to continue playing without any further breaks. Her focus now is on taking each day as it comes, working hard, and gaining more match experience.
Naomi Osaka’s return to Grand Slam tennis after maternity leave was met with adversity as she fell to Caroline Garcia in the first round of the Australian Open. While Osaka showcased glimpses of her previous brilliance, her accuracy and clutch performance were hindered by her extended time away from the sport. Nevertheless, Osaka remains determined to bounce back and continue improving in order to regain her winning form.
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