Naomi Osaka won a hard-fought 6-3, 6-3 victory over Colombian Camila Osorio to begin the defense of her Australian Open title. However, she might have had a slight dip in her performance mid-way. The former world number one from Japan tugged out of a pre-tournament warm-up event in Melbourne after three matches. Acknowledging that her “body got a shock” after playing for the first time in four months. She beat her 50th-ranked opponent on Rod Laver Arena with few ill effects, but it was far from clinical.
“She played amazingly and fought for every point. I’m just happy to be here. It definitely always feels special to come back here,” said Naomi Osaka. The winner of the title at Melbourne Park in 2019 and 2021. Osaka seeded 13 after a long layoff following a disrupted 2021 season. In which she said she suffered “long bouts of depression,” raced to a 5-0 lead, and seemed to be in command. But, for some reason, she lost concentration as the persistent Osorio finally held serve. Then broke the four-time Grand Slam winner against the odds and held again to get back into the set at 3-5.
It definitely always feels special to come back here
Naomi Osaka gained a victory at last year’s finale against American Jennifer Brady. But then withdrew from the French Open and Wimbledon due to mental health problems. She contended that talking to the media after tournaments aggravated her hardships. And she made a weepy premature withdrawal from the US Open in September. However, in the lead-up to the year’s first Grand Slam, the 24-year-old said she was prepared to put her difficulties behind her and acknowledge herself.