New mother Naomi Osaka marked her triumphant comeback at the Brisbane International by securing a straight-set victory against Tamara Korpatsch. In her first tournament appearance in 15 months, the Japanese four-time Grand Slam champion exhibited her prowess on the court, defeating the unseeded German 6-3, 7-6 (11-9).
“I’m very proud of myself,” expressed the 26-year-old Osaka after the match. “I feel like I played at a pretty good level. I think my opponent played really well as well.”
Osaka demonstrated familiar power and agility but faced a few moments of nervousness when leading 5-3 in the second set. Despite some challenges, she clinched the set in a topsy-turvy tie-breaker, setting up a second-round clash with former world number one Karolina Pliskova.
Acknowledging the New Year’s Day crowd amid a warm reception at the Pat Rafter Arena, Osaka, currently unranked, made a strong start by breaking Korpatsch to love. Despite solid resistance from the world number 84, Osaka secured the first set and broke again to claim the victory with a mighty forehand winner.
The second set saw a brief lapse as Osaka conceded serve with a double fault, but she quickly restored parity with powerful winners. With a 5-3 lead, Osaka faced challenges closing out the match, allowing Korpatsch to earn two set points. Osaka’s nerves and Korpatsch’s resilient play created tension, but Osaka ultimately sealed the win on her own serve.
Reflecting on the match, Osaka admitted to nerves affecting her ability to close out points but emphasized the learning experience: “I just feel like I was nervous, so I wasn’t able to close out points the way I wanted to. I think I have to expect that from the first match of the year.”
Osaka’s successful return to competitive tennis highlights her resilience and determination as she navigates the challenges of motherhood alongside her professional career.