Naomi Osaka loses in first round of Australian Open to Caroline Garcia

Naomi Osaka’s grand slam return ended prematurely in a first-round loss at the Australian Open to 16th seed Caroline Garcia.

Playing in her first major tournament since the US Open in 2022 following the birth of daughter Shai last summer, Osaka gave Garcia a good fight but fell to a 6-4 7-6 (2) defeat on Rod Laver Arena.

It is the first time the 26-year-old, who won the title in Melbourne in 2019 and 2021, has lost in the opening round here.

Osaka certainly looked the part, her iridescent jacket, dress and shoes shimmering in the floodlights.

She made her return in Brisbane a fortnight ago, beating Tamara Korpatsch before a narrow loss to Karolina Pliskova.

This was a step up both in occasion and opponent but Osaka showed her serve and groundstrokes have lost none of their potency, drawing grasps from the crowd with her crisp ball-striking.

There were a few too many errors, though, and Garcia’s break of serve to lead 3-2 ultimately decided the set.

Neither player could find the breakthrough in the second set but France’s Garcia, who served 13 aces in all, was the stronger in the tie-break.

“I thought it was a really good match,” said Osaka. “I felt like I did the best that I could possibly do. It was just really nice to be on Rod Laver again, hear the audience, how much they interacted with the match. That was fun.

“I don’t regret anything. I think I’ve learned a lot during this trip, both on the court and off the court. Also, I think I just played some really good people. It’s a little unfortunate.

“I wouldn’t say this comeback is how I thought because I’m delusional enough to think I could have won the tournament. I think my delusion is what allows me to win the tournaments.

Boom! @CaroGarcia proves too strong for the