{"id":42745,"date":"2024-01-02T02:35:07","date_gmt":"2024-01-02T02:35:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/osaka-wins-comeback-match-at-brisbane-international-the-express-tribune\/"},"modified":"2024-01-02T02:35:07","modified_gmt":"2024-01-02T02:35:07","slug":"osaka-wins-comeback-match-at-brisbane-international-the-express-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/osaka-wins-comeback-match-at-brisbane-international-the-express-tribune\/","title":{"rendered":"Osaka wins comeback match at Brisbane International | The Express Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nBRISBANE:
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Former world number one and new mother Naomi Osaka<\/a> won her first match back after a long break Monday with a hard-fought victory over Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch at the Brisbane International.<\/p>\n

The 26-year-old was on court for an hour and 47 minutes before finally seeing off a gallant Korpatsch 6-3, 7-6 (11\/9) on Pat Rafter Arena.<\/p>\n

“I was super nervous, but I was excited to be out there,” said Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion who stepped away from tennis in September 2022, citing mental health concerns.<\/p>\n

After giving birth to a baby girl in July, she rediscovered her love of the game and decided to return for the 2024 season.<\/p>\n

It looked like she had never been away when she broke Korpatsch to love in the opening game then broke once more to take the first set relatively comfortably.<\/p>\n

But it was a different story in the second set as Korpatsch lifted and Osaka began to feel the pressure.<\/p>\n

Korpatsch broke Osaka’s serve to start the second set and although the Japanese star broke straight back, she was no longer as settled against the tenacious German.<\/p>\n

Osaka did break once more and was serving for the match at 5-4, but she was broken again and it went to a tiebreak, where both players had their chances.<\/p>\n

Osaka squandered two match points and Korpatsch two set points before Osaka prevailed on her third opportunity with a powerful forehand down the line.<\/p>\n

She said courtside that motherhood had changed her outlook on the game, and she had felt too isolated from fans and fellow players previously.<\/p>\n

“The last couple of years that I played before I had my daughter I didn’t return as much love as I was given,” she said.<\/p>\n

“So I really feel like that’s what I want to do in this chapter. I just really appreciate people coming out and cheering for me.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n