NEW DELHI:
Naomi Osaka
faced an early exit in her
Grand Slam
comeback on Monday, losing 6-4, 7-6 (7/2) to
Caroline Garcia
in the first round of the
Australian Open
in Melbourne.
The French 16th seed secured victory with a single break in the opening set against Osaka, who appeared rusty after her hiatus. Garcia continued her dominance in the second set tie-break, ultimately progressing in Melbourne.
Osaka, a Japanese
tennis
star with four Grand Slam titles, took a break from tennis in September 2022, citing mental health concerns.
After giving birth to her daughter, Shai, in July, she made the decision to return for the 2024 season.
Garcia acknowledged and paid respect to her opponent, Osaka, after securing the victory under the lights on Rod Laver Arena.
"I have a lot of respect for Naomi as a person and as a player," she said.
"She's been through a lot, but I'm just very glad to see her back and I hope she can enjoy tennis now and have fun out there. She's a great girl.
"I mean, six months after giving birth she is playing quite amazing already, so we have to watch out."
Osaka's preparation for the Australian Open included participation in this month's Brisbane International, where she exited in the second round against Karolina Pliskova.
In her first-round match against Garcia, the two-time champion initially matched her French opponent's intensity. However, a crucial moment occurred when Osaka double-faulted in the fifth game, conceding a break point, and subsequently, she sent a forehand into the net, surrendering her serve.
Despite a valiant effort to hold her next service game, the single break in Garcia's favor proved decisive for the 16th seed. The second set remained tightly contested, with both players holding serve, leading to a tie-break.
Osaka faced a setback on her serve, allowing Garcia to take a 3-2 lead, and the French player capitalised on the opportunity, winning all the remaining points to secure the match.
Osaka, currently ranked 831st in the world, experienced a challenging start to her Grand Slam comeback, while Garcia celebrated her victory with evident joy.
"I play tennis for this type of match," she said. "It was my first time at a Slam playing the second match in the evening after so many years on tour so I was excited by it.
"It will be a memory I will remember for many years. So win or lose, I wanted to have fun and experience it to the maximum."
(With AFP inputs)
English (US) ·