Caroline Garcia has handed
Naomi Osaka defeat in her return to Grand Slam tennis for the first time since becoming a mother at the 2024
Australian Open. It has been 15 months since the former World Number One has played tennis barring a warm-up in Brisbane in recent weeks and the former WTA Finals champion believes the ominous signs are there.
Osaka saw off Tamara Korpatsch and had the tennis world wondering if the two-time Australian Open champion was back to her best with signs there already in her first match back that the level was coming and for Garcia, she sees it already after her 6-2, 7-6 win.
It is a confidence booster for the Frenchwoman as well with Garcia going through a form slump after winning the WTA Finals and having the best year of her career. She is now 20th in the world after being top five and will hope for a resurgence like Osaka who she says she has a lot of respect for coming back especially after only becoming a mother halfway through 2023.
“I have a lot of respect for Naomi as a person & player. She’s had an amazing career. She was away for 15 months. She’s been through a lot. I hope she can enjoy tennis now & have fun out there. She’s a great girl. She’s done so much for our tennis in the last few years. 6 months after giving birth.. she’s playing amazing already. We have to watch out.”
