MELBOURNE, Australia — There could not have been a larger cheer over the primary two days of Australian Open play than the one which reverberated round Rod Laver Area as Naomi Osaka was warmly welcomed again into the cauldron of Grand Slam competitors from an 18-month maternity break.
The capability crowd rose to its ft in anticipation as a steely confronted Osaka strode via the stroll of champions, headphones on and glowing inside a shiny gold jacket. As she handed by her personal banner, which displayed her 2019 and 2021 Melbourne Park triumphs, she reached out together with her left palm and gently grazed it, maybe for good luck.
Then got here the introduction over the PA system and the following roar. Osaka was again.
The previous world No. 1’s return to main tennis — Osaka made her official comeback earlier this month on the Brisbane Worldwide — could have been spoiled by sixteenth seed Caroline Garcia, who prevailed 6-4, 7-6 (2), nevertheless it proved simply how a lot she means to the game. The gang rallied behind her from the opening level proper up till she fluffed an tried crosscourt backhand to stave off the primary of what would have been 4 Garcia match factors.
There isn’t any doubt Osaka was rusty. She struggled together with her serve and was unable to discover a constant rhythm within the baseline scraps, dumping some balls midway up the online and others 6 ft previous the baseline. At instances she seemed towards the evening sky, seemingly dumbfounded with how she was enjoying. However that was all to be anticipated from somebody who has modified extra diapers within the final six months than performed units of tennis.
“I felt like I did one of the best that I might probably do. It was simply very nice to be on Rod Laver once more, hear the viewers, how a lot they interacted with the match,” Osaka stated after the defeat. “I’ve to inform myself, ‘Hey, like six months in the past you had been pregnant,’ stuff like that. After all, there is a voice in my head that’s, ‘Who’re you to assume you possibly can come again and instantly begin successful matches?'”
What was encouraging concerning the Osaka efficiency was her optimistic strategy and willingness to swing freely all through even when she later admitted to feeling “hesitant” on the courtroom. The health and finesse will return with extra matches below her belt, however that mindset is one thing certain to carry her in good stead as she prepares to deal with her first full season since 2019. And that is precisely what each tennis stakeholder shall be hoping for.
IT’S NO SECRET that tennis has desperately missed Osaka. Her absence from the tour got here at a time when the game was navigating maybe its most tough interval, transitioning from an icon-laden period to a brand new chapter stuffed with unknowns.
It was in the course of the Osaka hiatus that maybe the best feminine tennis participant ever, Serena Williams, performed her closing match. The departure of the 23-time Slam champion was inevitable, and it left a gaping gap in not solely the ladies’s sport, however tennis on the whole. The void was much more stark given Williams’ retirement got here not 12 months after Roger Federer, arguably essentially the most universally adored participant in historical past, had known as time on his illustrious profession. In what appeared a blink of an eye fixed, two champions, and two reputable GOAT candidates, had been gone.
However the present tennis void goes far past simply Williams and Federer. Rafael Nadal missed simply concerning the entirety of the 2023 season with a hip flexor harm, and his tried comeback this month sadly stalled when he reinjured himself on the Brisbane Worldwide, forcing him to withdraw from the Australian Open. Given Nadal has already hinted at this yr’s Olympic Video games in Paris as a possible farewell occasion, alternatives to benefit from the Spanish star are shortly dwindling.
Nick Kyrgios could be polarizing, however there isn’t any denying he is field workplace leisure and one of many sport’s most recognizable names. The 28-year-old Australian did not play a aggressive level throughout Osaka’s maternity depart, as he continues to take care of a nagging wrist harm. There’s nonetheless no clear timetable on his return.
In reality, the one fixed amongst tennis’ A-listers has been Novak Djokovic, who continues to rack up main titles and improve his legacy. However even Djokovic, 36, cannot proceed to defy Father Time without end, and he should be at the very least pondering when he begins his farewell tour.
Tennis wants Osaka now greater than ever. The game is crying out for a contemporary crop of faces to paved the way into what’s been looming as a frightening new period for fairly a while. And whereas Osaka, now 26, is not precisely an up-and-comer, she’s the right candidate to guide the cost and take the baton from that golden technology.
“I’ve taken numerous breaks all through the years … I feel this one was the one which lastly clicked in my head,” Osaka stated in Melbourne. “I feel I spotted, like, being an athlete, that point is actually valuable. I by no means took that as a right earlier than [but] I used to be younger and I felt like I might type of roll again into it every time I wanted to.
“I suppose after having Shai, type of going via the battle of attempting to get myself again to the place I wish to be, it was extremely robust. I’ve a way more optimistic mindset and a way more grateful mindset.”
Osaka burst onto the scene on the Australian Open in 2018, defeating hometown hero Ashleigh Barty en path to the fourth spherical of the event. By August, she was a serious champion, having overwhelmed Williams for the US Open crown. And whereas that match was marred by controversy, it offered a launchpad to superstardom and a degree of recognition virtually unrivalled in tennis.
The common adoration for Osaka gained extra traction after she spoke candidly about her struggles with psychological well being and opted to take time away from the tour in the course of the 2021 season. There’s one thing about her vulnerability and soft-spoken humble demeanor that has made her such a relatable determine; as relatable as a multimillion-dollar star athlete can really feel to the common particular person.
Osaka is certainly the best draw and needle mover on the ladies’s aspect of the sport. She’s additionally considered one of tennis’ most marketable figures, resonating all around the globe, significantly in the USA and Asia.
The reception she obtained at Melbourne Park on Monday night solely highlighted simply how a lot she has been missed by all the tennis world, and the way essential it’s for her to assist steer the game via the approaching years.