‘I was super nervous’: Naomi Osaka returns to tennis with a win to set up blockbuster second round clash in Brisbane

Naomi Osaka has promised to show more love to her fans after making a successful return to tennis with an emphatic win in Brisbane.

Naomi Osaka is through to the second round of the Brisbane International after a straight-sets win in her first competitive match in 15 months. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Former world No.1 Naomi Osaka has made a successful return to the court, with the four-time grand slam winner defeating Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch in straight sets at the Brisbane International.

Monday’s match was her first in 15 months after she gave birth to daughter Shai last July.

There were a few nervy moments but Osaka’s class shone as she moved through to the second round with a 6-3 7-6 win that sets up a showdown with Karolina Pliskova, who has won the event three times.

Putting up a W 🙌

In her first match back in 15 months, @naomiosaka comes out on top against Korpatsch, 6-3, 7-6 (9)!#BrisbaneTennispic.twitter.com/BWrAoQigft

— wta (@WTA) January 1, 2024

The Japanese star set the tone with an early break as she cruised through the first set with her patented groundstrokes.

There were some signs of rust as she struggled to close out the match, unable to serve it out at 5-3, while she also squandered two match points in the tie-breaker before she had to save a couple of set points.

But a crushing forehand sealed the result, with Osaka gaining some confidence ahead of the Australian Open, which she won in 2019 and 2021.

“I was super nervous playing the entire time, but I was really excited to be out here,” she said after the match.

“It feels really good to be back.”

Naomi Osaka has celebrated her return to tennis with a win in Brisbane. Picture: Patrick Hamilton / AFP

This was a significant step for the 26-year-old, who had plenty of support in Brisbane, with Osaka conceding she struggled to connect with her fans before she became a mother.

“I feel like 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.

“I really feel like that’s what I want to do in this chapter. I just really appreciate people coming out, people knowing me and cheering for me because I feel like there was a time when I was just a little kid trying to watch my role models play.

“It feels really surreal sometimes to be playing on these courts.”