Naomi Osaka, the former No. 1 tennis player in the world, had a disappointing return to the Grand Slams. Osaka was eliminated in the first round of the 2024 Australian Open by 16th-seeded Caroline Garcia.
Osaka, playing just her third match after a 15-month break, delivered a solid performance, but Garcia ultimately proved too much of a strong opponent, securing a win in straight sets (6-4, 7-6 (2)). Osaka failed to get a single break point while uncharacteristically committing double faults and misplacing key shots.
Osaka took a lengthy break from tennis in late 2022 to focus on her “wellbeing.” During that time, she also gave birth to her daughter Shai. The 26-year-old made a comeback at this year’s Brisbane International, where she reached the Round of 32.
Osaka’s elimination in the first round is her earliest exit from the Australian Open in eight appearances. She won the tournament twice, in 2019 and 2021.
“I felt like I did the best that I could possibly do. It was just really nice to be on Rod Laver again, hear the audience, how much they interacted with the match,” Osaka told ESPN after the match. “I have to tell myself, ‘Hey, like six months ago you were pregnant,’ stuff like that. Of course, there’s a voice in my head that is, ‘Who are you to think you can come back and immediately start winning matches?’”
