Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, made a strong comeback to elite tennis after a 15-month absence by defeating Tamara Korpatsch of Germany 6-3, 7-6(9) in the first round of the Brisbane International on Monday, indicating a promising return to the sport.
The 26-year-old Japanese athlete last participated in a tour at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo in September 2022. In July, she gave birth to her daughter, Shai, before she began intensifying her preparation for the Australian Open, which takes place from Jan. 14-28.
It was evident that Osaka had not lost her touch as she easily broke Korpatsch’s serve to love in her first game back. Additionally, she displayed her exceptional skills by finishing the opening set in just 38 minutes with an impressive forehand winner.
Although the twice Melbourne Park champion faced some challenges in the second set, dropping her serve late in the game, she was able to maintain her composure and clean ball-striking, ultimately securing her victory in a closely fought tiebreak.
Osaka’s next opponent will be Karolina Pliskova, a former world number one, who received a bye into the second round. This upcoming match will be an exciting one as both players are known for their exceptional talent and strong competitive spirit.
(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Kim Coghill)
