NEW DELHI: Naomi Osaka's comeback to tennis faced an early exit as defending champion Karolina Pliskova secured a 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 victory in the second round after a hard-fought battle at the Brisbane International. Osaka, who hadn't played a tournament since September 2022, expressed mixed emotions, describing her return to the court as a "personal win" despite the disappointment of the loss.
"Even though it's super disappointing today, I know that if I keep training and if I keep putting in the work, then I'll eventually get to where I want to be," Osaka shared after the match.
Reflecting on her mental health concerns that led to a hiatus, Osaka expressed gratitude for being able to compete again. "Even stepping on the court is a personal win because a couple of weeks ago, I was even doubting if I could play with everyone," she added.
The Japanese star acknowledged the challenge posed by Pliskova's powerful serve and identified areas for improvement in her own game, particularly on break points. Despite the loss, Osaka remains optimistic about the year ahead.
The victory for Karolina Pliskova marked a successful return to competitive tennis after a first-round bye and a break from the game since September. Pliskova, a three-time winner of the Brisbane International, expressed satisfaction with her performance and recognized the need for improvement but deemed it a good start to her campaign.
In another match on the same day, world number two Aryna Sabalenka delivered a dominant display, defeating Lucia Bronzetti 6-3, 6-0. Sabalenka, the reigning Australian Open champion, expressed happiness with her performance and hoped to maintain the same level of play in the upcoming matches.
Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, is expected to continue her season with a focus on consistent training and improvement.
(With inputs from AFP)
