Former world No.1 Naomi Osaka made a triumphant return to the court after beating Germany's Tamara Korpach 6-3, 7-6(9) in a first-round match at the Brisbane tournament.
The Japanese tennis player had not played since September 2022, when she took a break from the sport due to mental health problems, then became a mother for the first time in July last year. Osaka, 26, needed an hour and 47 minutes to win her first official match in nearly a year and a half. "I was very nervous, but also very excited. I think it's better to have a tough match at the start, because it will prepare me for the upcoming battles. I'm proud of my performance, I think I played at a high level," shared the winner to four Grand Slam titles.
"My daughter has helped me grow a lot in a very short period of time. Now I am much more aware of other people, I appreciate them, even my rivals," added Osaka. /BGNES
