After taking maternity leave, Naomi Osaka returned to Grand Slam tennis the same way she left it, losing in the first round to Caroline Garcia 6-4 7-6(2) on Rod Laver Arena at the Australian Open.
Taking on the French 16th seed, who is an aggressive baseliner like Osaka, was always going to be a difficult task for the two-time Australian Open champion, who returned to tennis only a few weeks ago after a 15-month absence.
Garcia’s first break point of the match came in the fifth game after a double fault, and the 30-year-old former world number four converted it quickly to take the lead.
In the eighth game, Osaka had a chance to break back at deuce, but she hit a straightforward backhand into the net, and Garcia held with back-to-back aces to win the set.
Osaka presently ranked 831st in the world, had a difficult start to her Grand Slam comeback, but Garcia celebrated her triumph with evident joy.
After Garcia sealed the win at Rod Laver Arena, she paid respect and acknowledged her opponent, Osaka.