New mother Naomi Osaka won the first match of her comeback by beating Tamara Korpatsch in straight sets at the Brisbane International. The Japanese four-time Grand Slam champion, playing in her first tournament in 15 months, defeated the unseeded German 6-3 7-6 (11-9). She will be facing Karolina Pliskova next. "I'm very proud of myself," said Osaka, 26. "I feel like I played at a pretty good level. I think my opponent played really well as well." "The last couple of years that I played before I had my daughter, I didn't return as much love as I was given," Osaka said on court after the match.
"I just really appreciate people coming out and knowing me and cheering for me because I feel like there was a time I was just a little kid trying to watch my role models play.
"I feel like that's what I want to do in this chapter.
Osaka moved impressively and hit the ball with familiar power in an accomplished return, but did show a few signs of nerves after opening a 5-3 lead in the second set.
She became a little ragged and had to save two set points before winning a topsy-turvy tie-break 11-9 to set up a second-round meeting with fellow former world number one Pliskova.
The former world No 1 has not played since withdrawing from the Pan Pacific Trophy with a knee injury in September 2022. She became a mother for the first time in July.
