“Naomi Osaka’s Grand Slam Comeback Ends in First-Round Defeat at Australian Open”

Naomi Osaka faced an early exit in her Grand Slam comeback at the Australian Open on Monday, succumbing to a 6-4, 7-6 (7/2) defeat against Caroline Garcia in the tournament’s first round. The French 16th seed secured victory with a single break in the opening set, capitalizing on Osaka’s rustiness. Garcia continued her dominance in the second set tie-break to progress in Melbourne.

Osaka, a Japanese tennis star with four Grand Slam titles, took a hiatus from the sport in September 2022, citing mental health concerns. Following the birth of her baby girl, Shai, in July, she made the decision to return for the 2024 season.

Garcia, showing sportsmanship, paid tribute to her opponent after the match, expressing respect for Osaka both as a person and a player. She acknowledged Osaka’s challenging journey, stating, “She’s been through a lot, but I’m just very glad to see her back, and I hope she can enjoy the tennis now and have fun out there. She’s a great girl.”

Highlighting Osaka’s impressive return after a six-month hiatus post-childbirth, Garcia remarked, “I mean, six months after giving birth, she is playing quite amazing already, so we have to watch out.”

Osaka’s only warm-up before the Australian Open was at the Brisbane International, where she bowed out in the second round against Karolina Pliskova. The two-time Australian Open champion initially went head-to-head with Garcia but faced a setback in the fifth game, double-faulting to concede a break point and subsequently surrendering her serve with a forehand error.

Despite falling to 831st in the world rankings, Osaka showcased resilience in subsequent service games. However, Garcia’s early break proved decisive in securing the first set.

The second set remained evenly contested, with both players holding serve. The absence of a breakthrough led to a tie-break, where Osaka faltered on her serve, allowing Garcia to seize control and clinch victory by winning all remaining points.

Reflecting on the match, Garcia expressed her excitement, stating, “I play tennis for this type of match.” She highlighted the significance of playing the second evening match at a Grand Slam after many years on tour and emphasized her determination to have fun and savor the experience to the fullest, irrespective of the outcome.