New mom Naomi Osaka received the primary match of her comeback by beating Tamara Korpatsch in straight units on the Brisbane Worldwide.
The Japanese four-time Grand Slam champion, taking part in in her first match for 15 months, defeated the unseeded German 6-3 7-6 (11-9).
She’s going to face Karolina Pliskova subsequent.
“I am very happy with myself,” mentioned Osaka, 26. “I really feel like I performed at a fairly good degree. I feel my opponent performed rather well as effectively.”
Osaka moved impressively and hit the ball with acquainted energy in an achieved return, however did present just a few indicators of nerves after opening a 5-3 lead within the second set.
She grew to become a bit ragged and needed to save two set factors earlier than profitable a topsy-turvy tie-break 11-9 to arrange a second-round assembly with fellow former world primary Pliskova.
Osaka briefly acknowledged the New 12 months’s Day crowd as she walked out to a heat reception, with the rain falling on the roof of the Pat Rafter Area.
At present unranked, Osaka made the proper begin and broke Korpatsch to like with some crisp ball putting and a few highly effective winners.
The world quantity 84 supplied some stable resistance after that, however Osaka broke once more to take her second set level with a mighty forehand winner.
The match threatened to show early within the second set – Osaka made a tentative begin after each gamers returned from the lavatory and she or he conceded serve with a double fault.
However she restored parity instantly with some thumping winners and moved to the brink of victory by breaking the Korpatsch serve for a 5-3 lead.
It could actually usually show tough to shut out matches after such an extended break from competitors, and so it proved as Osaka performed a free service sport to concede the benefit.
Korpatsch was rising in confidence and earned two set factors. The second, on her personal serve, was saved by a robust Osaka backhand and the Japanese participant was then capable of recover from the road on her personal serve.
“She returned fairly effectively in the direction of the top of the second set. That form of threw me off a bit bit,” mentioned Osaka.
“I simply really feel like I used to be nervous so I wasn’t capable of shut out factors the way in which I wished to. I feel I’ve to count on that from the primary match of the 12 months.”
