Osaka gets first win in 15 months in comeback match at Brisbane International

Former world No 1 Naomi Osaka has made a winning return to the WTA Tour, defeating German Tamara Korpatsch 6-3, 7-6(9) to claim her first victory in over 15 months at the Brisbane International

The Japanese player gave birth to her daughter in July 2023, prior to which she had not played since September 2022. 

“I just really appreciate people coming out and knowing me and cheering for me,” Osaka said to the Brisbane crowd. “I feel like there was a time I was just a little kid trying to watch my role models play. So it feels really surreal sometimes to be playing on these courts.”

“The last couple of years that I played before I had my daughter, I didn’t return as much love as I was given. I feel like that’s what I want to do in this chapter.”

Osaka targeting Australian Open fairytale 

Prior to her pregnancy, Osaka had had a tumultuous year on the WTA Tour. After winning her first Grand Slam in 2018 and going on to win another three in three years–climbing her way to the top of the women’s rankings at age 21–Osaka saw a dip in form across parts of 2021 and 2022. 

However, Australian courts have been a happy hunting ground for Osaka in the past, with two of her four Grand Slam crowns coming at the Australian Open in 2019 and 2022. 

With a win under her belt already in 2024, the Japanese player will undoubtedly be looking to channel her inner Elina Svitolina and make a fast start to her comeback from maternity leave.

She’ll have her hands full in the next round however, with No 16 seed Karolina Pliskova up next, who received a bye in the first round. The Czech player holds a 3-2 head-to-head against Osaka, with their last meeting coming at this tournament in 2020, where Pliskova won 6-7(10), 7-6(3), 6-2.

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Grand Slams, #BlackLivesMatter, mental health, Japan, mother: Everything you always wanted to know about Naomi Osaka (but never had time to find out) – updated with Mouratgolou news

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