Australian Open
Naomi Osaka loses Grand Slam comeback
Already eliminated from her Grand Slam comeback: Naomi Osaka. photo
© Asanka Brendon Ratnayake/AP/dpa
It wasn’t enough to advance at the Australian Open. But Naomi Osaka’s first big appearance since her comeback is impressive.
Osaka withdrew from the WTA tour in September 2022 and made it public a little later that she was pregnant. She gave birth to her daughter Shai in July 2023.
“It was a great feeling to play at Rod Laver Arena again and hear the crowd,” Osaka said. “I think I played as well as I could,” said the Japanese, who triumphed in Melbourne in 2019 and 2021. “I learned a lot on this trip to Australia and I’m very grateful for it.”
At the end of the year, the former number one in the tennis world announced that he wanted to return to the tennis court sooner than many expected. Two years ago, she reported depression and anxiety and later took an extended break to protect her mental health.
More relaxed than in the past
When she returned to Brisbane just six months after the birth of her daughter, Osaka appeared more relaxed than in the past, when she mostly isolated herself and walked around with large headphones. During the break she realized how much she loved and missed tennis. “I’m now trying to put a lot less pressure on myself and soak it all up.”
When she entered the Rod Laver Arena on Monday evening in a silver glittering training jacket, she was cheered by the spectators. In only her third match since returning, she stood up well to Garcia and scored some spectacular points. But in the end Garcia was still too strong for the Japanese. “Respect for Naomi. To be playing such good tennis again just six months after the birth of her daughter is impressive,” said Garcia.