Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, felt some tension but appeared strong after returning to competition following a 15-month absence, defeating German player Tamara Korpatsch 6-3, 7-6 in the first round of the Brisbane International today, Monday. The 26-year-old Japanese player last competed on the WTA Tour at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo in 2022 and gave birth to her first child, Shai, before intensifying her preparations for the Australian Open scheduled from January 14 to 28.
Osaka showed no signs of decline in her first game back, breaking Korpatsch’s serve without giving her a chance for any points, and the former world number one increased the pressure again near the end of the first set, sealing it with a powerful forehand in 38 minutes. Osaka lost her serve for the second time at the end of the next set, wasting her advantage, but continued to strike in the strong tiebreak to secure the win.
Osaka stated after signing autographs and taking pictures with fans on the sidelines, "I was really nervous while playing the whole time, but I was really excited to be here. It’s really good to be back. I feel like the last two years I played before having my daughter didn’t change anything; I didn’t want the amount of love I received. So I really feel that this is what I want to do in this chapter."
Osaka has taken long breaks from competition since winning her second title at Melbourne Park, prioritizing her mental health after withdrawing from the French Open in 2021 and again after the US Open in the same year. She expressed her joy in feeling the love from the fans upon her recent return. Osaka added, "I really appreciate the fans cheering for me because I feel that there was a time when I was just a little girl trying to watch her heroes play. So it’s sometimes surreal to play in these arenas."
In the next round, she will face former world number one Karolína Plíšková, who will begin her participation in the tournament from the second round.
