Melbourne, Australia – January 15: Japan’s Naomi Osaka plays a forehand in her singles round ,
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Naomi Osaka, playing her first Grand Slam tournament as a mother, lost in the first round of the Australian Open.
Osaka, a four-time major champion, lost 6-4, 7-6(2) to No. 16 Carolina Garcia of France in her second tournament since returning from maternity leave following the birth of her daughter Shai last July.
“Playing Garcia in your first match in a major is a nightmare, that’s the biggest hurdle,” ESPN’s Pam Shriver said on air.
Osaka was one of many new mothers With Angelique Kerber and Caroline Wozniacki In the draw. Kerber and Wozniacki are yet to play their first round matches.
“With respect to Naomi, I always say you never underestimate a champion,” ESPN’s Mary Jo Fernandez said before the tournament. “He has won the Australian Open twice. I saw his game last week also. I thought she was hitting the ball very well after a long time. In fact I thought she was doing very well.
“If she finds a way to get past the first few rounds, she’s always going to be a threat. His main weapons are his serve and groundstrokes.
“You look at the top four with Iga (Swiatek), (Aryana) Sabalenka, (Elena) Rybakina and Coco (Gauff), I think it’s hard to get past them at the moment. I thought what we saw from Naomi last week was very promising.”
Garcia won the first set in 41 minutes and hit a service winner on set point.
In the second set tiebreak, Osaka entered the net with a backhand on match point.
“Certainly the returns were really significant,” Osaka said in the press, “But I think I could have done a little bit more — this is my opinion — like baseline shots. I felt like I was constantly on my nerves and really hesitant. I think that’s because Maybe because I haven’t played a match for a while, I was thinking a little too much in my mind about where to go.
“I think when I am playing her character, I am aware of the patterns she likes to do. Sometimes randomly for me she will serve in a completely different way or at a completely different speed. Sometimes in ways I didn’t expect. That’s why in the second set I retreated a little on the second serve.
“I’m also not the best returner right now.”
Garcia did not face a single break point in the match and hit 13 aces. In the second set he lost only one point on his first serve.
ESPN’s Rene Stubbs said, “If Caroline Garcia plays well, she will win the tournament.” “I mean, it’s a joke how well he played tonight.”
Coco Goff rolls into the opener
Grand Slam champion, plays his first major as No. 4 coco goff It was a strong start.
The US Open champion advanced to the second round with a 6-3, 6-0 win over Slovakia’s Anna Karolina Schmiedlova.
“I thought I came back well and then I finally got my serve back,” Gauff said on the court. “He’s a tough player to play against but I’m happy with how I was able to control my emotions today.”
The 19-year-old Gauff credited her improved serve to working with former US Open champion Andy Roddick during the offseason in Charlotte, N.C.
“I think I just have to continue to trust it and trust all the work I’ve done in the off-season,” Goff said. According to WTA, “He’s probably one of the best servers in history, and especially on the American side. I don’t think I could have had anyone better to help me with this.”
Gauff is now 6-0 in 2024 after defending her title in Auckland, New Zealand last week.
“I think mentally, when I have an aggressive serving mindset, that’s when I play my best tennis,” Gauff said. “That’s not why my serve isn’t difficult. It’s more so why am I not trying harder for it.
“I think I’m just trying harder for it. Hopefully I can continue that aggressive mentality. I think I play my best tennis when I do that.”
