12:13 p.m.: It’s done for Osaka, she had guts to save two double break points and stay in the game at 4-3.
12:12 p.m. : Still waste in the game for Osaka, who lets a 4-3 ball slip away on a backhand that is way too long.
12:11 p.m. : Come oooooooooon, Osaka takes all the risks with a second thunderous ball, she takes the advantage.
12:10 p.m.: Ouch, Garcia misses this second ball of 5-2 by being overwhelmed in a long tendax exchange (40/40).
12:10 p.m.: First break point saved with a big cross forehand (30/40).
12:09 p.m.: And bam, two double break points for “Caro”, Osaka scored an ace in this game, but she is really feverish otherwise (15/40).
12:07 p.m.: What a nasty first ball again from our “Caro”, bam bam boom 4-2, break confirmed with authority!
12:06 p.m. : Ooh Osaka’s gross foul from the back of the court, in mid-net and off-axis mode (40/15).
12:05 p.m. : 30/15 for Caroline Garcia, everything is under control (or almost).
12:02 p.m.: It’s done, the Lyonnaise sent blocks and pushed Osaka into a foul from the back of the court. 3-2 for Garcia, break well led while she was trailing 40/15 without having existed until then on the opposing service.
12:02 p.m.: It’s ugly to be happy about it, we know, but YESIIIIIIIIIIIIII, double fault from Osaka and first break point of the match!
12:01 p.m.: Yes yes yes, that’s it “Caro”, super aggressiveness from the return and well-conducted exchange, 40/40! This is the first opportunity.
12:01 p.m. : Big mistake from Naomi Osaka on a forehand caught to go to the net, but 40/30 for her all the same.
11:59 a.m.: Ouch, a first double fault for “Caro”… and boom, ace and 2-2 straight away, what are the people asking for?
11:57 a.m. : Caroline Garcia always solid on serve! 40/0 and three balls of 2-2 therefore.
11:54 a.m.: Well, shutout also for Osaka straight away. There’s a trace of strength there, very short rallies, and a huge forehand from Osaka to complete this third game and take the lead (2-1).
11:51 a.m.: Yeaaaaaaah, perfect shutout for our Caro, with two aces up for grabs, 1-1 without the slightest problem for the Lyonnaise!
11:49 a.m.: A first ace for the Japanese and a fairly gross foul later for Garcia and 1-0 for Osaka!
11:49 a.m. : Two big winning serves behind for Osaka, 30/15, it’s off to a knock as expected!
11:48 a.m. : Yes yes yes, great response from the start of “Flying Caro” and 0/15!
11:48 a.m.: It’s going to attack on the Osaka service!
11:45 a.m. : Note that if Caroline Garcia and Naomi Osaka are “already” on the court chaining balls, it is also because the previous poster between Alex De Minaur and Milos Raonic did not keep all its promises . And for good reason, the Canadian was forced to give up a set everywhere, 2-0 for De Minaur at the start of the third set.
11:42 a.m. : Small cap and headphones on the ears until the start of this warm-up basically for the Japanese (fashion point number 2).
11:41 a.m. : Very big ovation for the presentation of Naomi Osaka, with Japanese flags everywhere in the Arena.
11:41 a.m. : Pretty little golden jacket by the way for Naomi Osaka (20 Minutes fashion point yes), who symbolically touched her name in the corridor, registered like that of all the victorious players one day of this Australian Open. In his case, we remind you that it was a double here in 2019 and 2021. It was yesterday or almost…
11:40 a.m. : Here they are entering the court for this poster of the Australian “night session”.
11:36 a.m. : The pretty crazy stat that “L’Equipe” told us this Monday morning is that there are no less than eight mothers entered in the final draw of this Australian Open, namely Naomi Osaka, Caroline Wozniacki, Angelique Kerber, Victoria Azarenka, Elina Svitolina obviously, Tajana Maria, Taylor Townsend and finally Yanina Wickmayer.
11:33 a.m. : We are told that the two players will arrive very quickly at the Rod Laver Arena, don’t leave us.
11:30 a.m.: Hello everyone, we’ll meet as planned for this salivating match between our “Caro” Garcia and Naomi Osaka.
There are “jackpot” draws, and then there is Caroline Garcia. After a definitely difficult 2023 season, the French number one launches her first Grand Slam 2024 with some serious bad luck in Melbourne. Judge for yourself: seeded number 16, the Lyonnaise was supposed to be spared, for her first round at this Australian Open. Except that there is the perfect scarecrow in the final table, namely an 831st WTA player who reigned over world tennis five years ago. And yes, we are talking to you about Naomi Osaka. Victorious twice at the US Open (2018 and 2020) and in Melbourne (2019 and 2021), the 26-year-old Japanese has since expressed her difficulties in managing her “mental health”, before becoming the mother of a little Shai last July.
Rather convincing for her recovery during the recent Brisbane tournament, with a success and a narrow narrow defeat against Karolina Pliskova, Naomi Osaka constitutes a mystery in the eyes of our “Flying Caro”. “She doesn’t have the rhythm of the matches, which is still important,” she explained after the draw for the Australian Open. Her level of play is a question mark because she is just coming back. But she remains a player who has won big things and who knows how to manage big tournaments. » But after all, that’s sometimes how we have perceived Caroline Garcia since her crowning achievement during the 2022 WTA Masters.
>> Join us for this great moment of tennis a little before 11 a.m., the scheduled time of this second match of the Australian night session on the Rod Laver Arena.