Naomi Osaka has welcomed the test that came in a successful WTA Tour return in Brisbane that mixed her thunderous best with some forgettable moments.
At the Brisbane International on Monday, a former top-ranked player from Japan and winner of four major tournaments defeated Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch with a score of 6-3, 7-6 (11-9) in the first round. This was her first win in a WTA event in over a year and her first match since giving birth to her daughter in July.
The 26-year-old player hit 36 winning shots, primarily on the forehand, but also made 29 unforced mistakes in a match that lasted nearly two hours.
Osaka expressed that she felt Shai’s presence as she competed, despite her daughter being in the US. She was motivated to give her best performance for her.
The match began with a strong performance, resulting in several happy faces. Korpatsch was quickly defeated in the first game. However, there was some disappointment when she lost while serving for the match at 5-3 in the second set. Korpatsch, ranked 83rd in the world, managed to save two match points and even gained two set points of her own during a tense tiebreak that lasted 70 minutes.
Eventually, Osaka’s powerful forehand helped her escape the difficult situation, and she happily signed autographs and took selfies with fans once the match was over.
“I would have preferred the match I played,” she responded when questioned about whether she would have preferred an easy win. “I admit that some of my choices may not have been the best, but facing tougher opponents will help prepare me for future challenges.”
“I am extremely proud of my performance…all I can focus on is the unrelenting nerves I experienced. Overcoming that challenging match was a huge accomplishment and I hope to use it as a stepping stone. My upcoming match will be a great opportunity to see how much I have improved.” This upcoming match will be an exciting showdown against former number one player Karolina Pliskova, who has won the Brisbane tournament twice before.
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Arina Rodionova from Australia has advanced to the next round. Daria Saville, who has recovered from an injury, will also compete in the second round by facing Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska on Monday at Pat Rafter Arena. Due to rain, there was a delay in play on the outside courts on Monday, including the match between Australian players Kimberly Birrell and Olivia Gadecki.
Aryna Sabalenka, the current winner of the Australian Open, will be joined by Elena Rybakina, Jelena Ostapenko, Victoria Azarenka, Sofia Kenin, and Sloane Stephens in the 64-player women’s draw. This event serves as a crucial preparation for the Australian Open, which will take place in Melbourne.
Source: theguardian.com
