Naomi Osaka: “I have seen the worst” of 2024 return after Caroline Garcia Doha revenge

Naomi Osaka promises the best of her comeback from maternity leave is yet to come at the Qatar TotalEnergies Open, where snapped a three-match losing streak to avenge an Australian Open defeat against Caroline Garcia, 7-5, 6-4.

“It was really tough today, but I also felt really inspired because I haven’t been here in a while, and just to see everyone out here,” Osaka said on court after the match. “I saw a lot of Haitian and Japanese flags. It means a lot to me and it’s really nice to play in front of everyone.”

Osaka trailed Garcia 3-5 in the opening set before turning the tables on the former world No. 4, saving seven of eight break points faced to advance into the second round in one hour and 28 minutes.

A former world No. 1, Osaka has struggled for consistency since returning to action at the start of the season, winning her first match after 16 months off court to give birth to daughter Shai but losing her next three. The nadir came at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, where she lost a 6-0 second set to Danielle Collins.

“I actually have more confidence in myself now, which is a little strange, but I think that, for me, was the worst thing that could happen,” she said of the defeat in her pre-tournament press conference. “I feel like since I have seen the worst that can happen, I think, like, everything else is a plus. In Australia I know that I said I was only going to play Dubai, so I feel like I have to take these tournaments as extra credit.

“Someone said to me it's like a very expensive practice, so I don't know, after they said that, I felt pretty optimistic,” she added with a smile.

The 26-year-old nonetheless drew an especially tricky practice partner in Garcia, who defeated Osaka in straight sets at the Australian Open less than a month ago. Seeded No. 15 in Doha, Garcia looked poised for a second straight victory when she broke serve in the fifth game and found herself serving for the opening set.

Osaka caught fire from there, reeling off five straight games to win her first set of tennis since losing to Karoline Pliskova at the Brisbane International.

“I have never believed in, like, unlucky draws,” Osaka said when learning she would face Garcia again. “I have always felt like whoever is the better player deserves to win at the end of the day.

“For me, I almost feel better if I play tougher opponents, because I think, like, I learn more from the matches.”

The unseeded Osaka applied lessons learned late in the second set, when she weathered some strong serving from Garcia to find a crucial opening in the 10th game, forcing a forehand error from the Frenchwoman to earn her first match point. Pumping herself up while awaiting the serve, Osaka powered another strong backhand to ultimately edge over the finish line in under 90 minutes, striking 16 winners and winning 86% of points played on her first serve.

Up next for Osaka will be another powerful server in Croatia’s Petra Martic, who survived a third-set tiebreaker to defeat Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (5).

“It’s really tough,” Osaka said on court. “I didn’t realize how tough it was until I stepped away for a bit. It just made me a lot more grateful and I realized the athlete’s lifespan isn’t that long so I really have to try and treasure every moment on the court.”