Naomi Osaka triumphs in comeback at Brisbane International
By Carl Samson
Naomi Osaka emerged victorious over Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch in her highly anticipated comeback at the Brisbane International on New Year’s Day.
Winning moment: Osaka, 26, beat Korpatsch 6-3, 7-6 (11-9) despite challenging moments, including losing a 5-3 lead in the second set and facing two set points against her in the tiebreak. Ultimately, her powerful forehand decided the nearly two-hour match.
What she’s saying: Osaka said she felt “super nervous” throughout Monday’s opening round, which was her first WTA match in 15 months. She last competed at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo and considered retirement.
“I was super nervous playing the entire time but I was really excited to be out here,” the four-time major champ told reporters post-match. “It feels really good to be back.”
Osaka then gave birth to her first child, Shai, in July. The tennis star said she thought of her daughter during the game.
“While I’m playing, I’m aware of it in the sense that I want to be a good role model for my daughter. Other than that I think I’m pretty much trying to be the same old me,” she said.
What’s next: The Brisbane International serves as a warm-up to the Australian Open, which kicks off Jan. 14 in Melbourne. Osaka will face fellow former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova in the second round.
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