Naomi Osaka loses to Caroline Garcia in 1st round on Grand Slam comeback at Australian Open

Melbourne: Naomi Osaka waved to the crowd and walked back up the players’ tunnel past the images of former champions after her Grand Slam comeback ended in a first-round loss at the Australian OpenAustralian OpenAustralian Open 2024 to 16th-seeded Caroline Garcia. It was too soon into her comeback for the former two-time winner to have a chance of adding a third title in Melbourne this time.

Three matches into her return from 15 months off the tour, and six months after the birth of her daughter, Shai, Osaka lost 6-4, 7-6 (2) in a tight encounter at Rod Laver Arena on Monday night. Garcia didn’t give Osaka a look at a breakpoint in the match. Most of the rallies were short. The service holds were comfortable — except for one in the first set. That was all the difference.

“I have a lot of respect for Naomi as a person and as a player — 15 months she’s been away,” Garcia said. “I’m very glad to see her back. Six months after giving birth, she’s playing quite amazing already. We have to watch out.”