Naomi Osaka may have been unable to mark her comeback with the instant glory she craved, but on her return to grand slam tennis on Monday the four-time major champion showed she is on the right path. The former world No 1 tussled with one of the best players in the world before narrowly losing 6-4, 7-6(2) against Caroline Garcia in the first round of the Australian Open.
After contesting her first tournament since September 2022 at the beginning of the year in Brisbane, the Australian Open is Osaka’s second competition since she gave birth to her daughter, Shai, in July.
