Image Credit: AngelHenkelman
Naomi Osaka bounced back from her recent first-round defeat in Abu Dhabi with a commanding victory over 15th seed Caroline Garcia at the Qatar Open on Monday. This marked Osaka's second win in five matches since her return last month after a 15-month hiatus on maternity leave.
The Japanese four-time Grand Slam winner secured a 7-5, 6-4 victory, exacting a measure of revenge on Garcia, who had knocked her out in the first round of last month's Australian Open. Reflecting on her improved performance, Osaka expressed satisfaction with her returns and heightened focus, emphasizing that she feels like a much better player now.
"I feel like I'm a much better player now. In Australia, my returns weren't as good, and I don't feel like I was as focused as I am now," shared Osaka.
Osaka, who recently became a mother, opened up about the challenges of returning to professional tennis after pregnancy. She described the journey as tough but emphasized the personal growth she experienced. "After giving birth, I feel I trained quickly. I felt like I was driving a car that wasn't mine. So my body didn't feel like the body that I was used to," she explained.
Reflecting on her journey, Osaka highlighted the importance of self-love and strength for her daughter. "It was in that journey I felt like I learned how to love myself as I am now. I got to wake up every day and see my daughter and know that I was strong enough for her to come into this world."
Osaka's next challenge on her comeback trail is a second-round match against Petra Martic of Croatia. This encounter comes a decade after their first meeting, where a 16-year-old Osaka prevailed in a final qualifying round match at Stanford in 2014.
Despite a challenging start on Monday, with Garcia winning her first 11 service points, Osaka showed resilience, breaking Garcia's serve to level at 5-5 and ultimately securing the set with a love break. A break of serve in the last game sealed the win Osaka needed, providing a vital pick-me-up after her early knockout a week ago.
Garcia acknowledged Osaka's accuracy on break point opportunities, admitting that Osaka was the better player on crucial points. As Osaka advances to face Petra Martic, her triumph over Garcia serves as a testament to her resilience and determination on the comeback trail.
