Naomi Osaka stated Wednesday she was “tremendous disenchanted” however simply being on the court docket was a “private win” after her return to tennis on the Brisbane Worldwide was ended by defending champion Karolina Pliskova.
Pliskova, who gained the event the final time it was held in 2020, bounced again from dropping the primary set to grind down the Japanese star 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 within the second spherical.
World quantity two Aryna Sabalenka, in the meantime, thumped Italian Lucia Bronzetti 6-3, 6-0 in a dominant show on Pat Rafter Area, whereas second seed Elena Rybakina downed Australian qualifier Olivia Gadecki 6-4, 6-1.
“Regardless that it’s tremendous disappointing at the moment, I do know that if I hold coaching and if I hold placing within the work, then I’ll finally get to the place I wish to be,” stated Osaka.
“It’s sort of powerful as a result of she has such a fantastic serve — my breakpoints might have been higher, however I believe aside from that, we each performed rather well.
“Even stepping on the court docket is a private win as a result of a few weeks in the past I used to be even doubting if I might play with everybody,” she added.
“So I suppose these two matches that I’ve had sort of show to me that I’m doing okay, and the yr is simply going to get higher for me.”
The four-time Grand Slam champion had not performed a event since September 2022, citing psychological well being considerations.
She had a child daughter in July earlier than deciding to make a comeback.
After a powerful first-round win over Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch, Osaka began strongly in opposition to the Thirty ninth-ranked Pliskova, breaking the Czech’s opening service sport.
Pliskova, a two-time Grand Slam finalist, levelled however Osaka broke once more to take a 4-2 lead after which held on to financial institution the opening set.
The momentum started to shift within the second set because the tall Pliskova started to seek out the mark along with her serve.
She gained the second set tiebreak then bought an early break within the third, holding on with ease to take the match in 2hr 13min.
Pliskova has gained the Brisbane Worldwide 3 times and stated she felt higher because the match progressed.
“I believed I performed fairly effectively — there are numerous issues to enhance but it surely’s begin,” stated Pliskova, including that, after a first-round bye and having not performed since September, she wanted time to seek out her ft.
“You’ll be able to practise as a lot as you need however in matches, it’s at all times a little bit bit completely different,” she stated.
Reigning Australian Open champion Sabalenka was in imperious kind in opposition to Bronzetti, breaking the Italian as soon as within the first set and 3 times within the second.
“I’m tremendous proud of the efficiency and I believe I performed a very nice match,” stated Sabalenka, who gained 24 factors to Bronzetti’s 5 within the second set.
“I simply hope I can hold this similar stage for every match, and even higher.
AFP