In an unexpected turn of events, Naomi Osaka, a four-time major champion, suffered a defeat in the first round of the Australian Open. Playing her first Grand Slam tournament since becoming a mother, Osaka faced off against No. 16 Carolina Garcia of France and lost 6-4, 7-6(2). This match marked only Osaka's second tournament appearance since returning from maternity leave following the birth of her daughter Shai last July.
Source commentator described Garcia as the 'ultimate disruptor' and acknowledged that facing her in the first round of a major tournament was a challenging task for Osaka. Alongside Osaka, other new mothers such as Angelique Kerber and Caroline Wozniacki were also in the tournament draw. However, their first-round matches were yet to be played.
Despite the early exit, there was optimism surrounding Osaka's performance. Analyst noted that as a champion, Osaka should never be underestimated. Analyst had observed Osaka's play the previous week and was impressed with her ball striking and movement, even after a lengthy break from the game. With her powerful serves and groundstrokes, if Osaka could navigate the initial rounds, she had the potential to become a threat in the tournament.
During the match, Garcia dominated the first set, winning it in just 41 minutes and securing the set with a service winner. In the second set tiebreak, Osaka unfortunately hit a backhand into the net on match point, handing Garcia the victory. Impressively, Garcia did not face a single break point throughout the match and delivered a remarkable 13 aces. In the second set, Garcia dropped just one point on her first serve.
Meanwhile, Coco Gauff, the reigning U.S. Open champion, had a fantastic start to her Australian Open campaign. In her first major tournament as a Grand Slam champion, Gauff cruised to victory in her opening match against Slovakia's Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, winning 6-3, 6-0.
After the match, Gauff commented on her performance, mentioning that she was pleased with her returns and how she managed her emotions throughout the match. The 19-year-old attributed her improved serve to her work with former U.S. Open champion Andy Roddick during the offseason, emphasizing the value of his guidance in refining her serve.
Gauff's win against Schmiedlova propelled her to a 6-0 record in 2024, following her title defense in Auckland, New Zealand, just last week. Mentally, Gauff believes that adopting an aggressive serving mindset is key to her best tennis. She acknowledged the need to trust her training and continue to cultivate that aggressive approach, recognizing that it brings out her most effective style of play.
As the Australian Open progresses, fans will be following the matches closely, especially with the surprising early exit of Osaka and the promising start from Gauff. The tournament continues to showcase the thrilling and unpredictable nature of professional tennis.
