Unfortunately, Naomi Osaka was not able to achieve the immediate success she desired upon her return, but her performance in the first round of the Australian Open on Monday demonstrated that she is on a positive trajectory. Despite a close match against top-ranked player Caroline Garcia, the four-time major champion ultimately lost with a score of 6-4, 7-6(2).
Following her return to the court in Brisbane in January, Osaka’s participation in the Australian Open marks her second tournament since giving birth to her daughter, Shai, last July.
In the matches between Osaka and Garcia, both players, who were seeded 20th, pushed each other to play skilled and aggressive tennis from the very start. They both served impressively and hit powerful shots from both sides of the court, refusing to give up any ground near the baseline. The determining factor was Garcia’s ability to maintain her focus and play consistently well throughout the two tightly contested sets. She didn’t let go of her serve and ultimately dominated in the crucial tiebreak.
“I believe it was an excellent match,” stated Osaka. “Personally, I felt that I gave my all and performed to the best of my ability. It was a great feeling to be back on Rod Laver Arena and hear the audience’s enthusiastic participation throughout the match. It was a fun experience.”
Taking a break from professional tennis for 16 months has not diminished Osaka’s powerful skills. Her initial serve is still one of the most formidable shots in the sport, and her speed and strength in hitting the ball are unmatched. The audience was constantly amazed by her explosive forehand throughout the evening.
Garcia commented that it is impressive for someone who has been away for 15 months and gave birth six months ago. She believes that if this person is returning to play in a tournament, it means they are feeling prepared and motivated to win some major titles again. The person’s shots, particularly their ball, serve, and forehand, are strong and fast, so one must be fully prepared to face them.
During Osaka’s initial recovery phase, she is working on improving her return of serve, endurance in long rallies, and overall movement. As she continues to play matches and spend time on the court, her entire game will likely improve.
“I constantly remind myself, ‘You were pregnant just six months ago,’ and other similar thoughts,” Osaka shared. “There’s also a voice in my head that questions whether I can come back and win matches immediately. But I’ve always had high expectations for myself, so I try to give myself a chance. Learning to be kinder to myself was a key lesson during my time away.”
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In recent years, Osaka has gained a reputation for playing too infrequently, even when she continued to peak at the big events and win grand slam titles. While her game will likely return, the biggest question surrounding her comeback is whether she will be willing to throw herself into playing a full schedule and to endure the difficult learning curve that could be required of her on the path to rediscovering her top form. According to Osaka, she will indeed plan a far busier schedule this year and next month she will head to Dubai in search of more matchplay.
Osaka expressed frustration at not winning matches and admitted to having delusional thoughts about winning the tournament. She believes her delusion is what drives her to win tournaments and plans to continue training and playing in hopes of achieving her dreams.
