Osaka's grand slam return ends abruptly

In a dramatic turn of events on the opening day of the Australian Open, two-time champion Naomi Osaka’s highly anticipated Grand Slam comeback hit a roadblock as she suffered an unexpected defeat against Caroline Garcia.

The scorching temperatures at Melbourne Park witnessed both surprises and expected victories, with US Open winner Coco Gauff showcasing her dominance while men’s third seed Daniil Medvedev battled through challenging conditions.

Osaka, who took a hiatus from tennis in September 2022 due to mental health concerns, returned to the court after giving birth to a baby girl in July.

Despite the anticipation surrounding her return to the Australian Open, she couldn’t recapture her championship-winning form and bowed out to 16th-seeded Garcia in a tough match.

Garcia, acknowledging Osaka’s resilience, commented, “She’s been through a lot, but I’m just very glad to see her back, and I hope she can enjoy the tennis now and have fun out there.”

Meanwhile, Gauff lived up to her pre-tournament ambitions, starting her campaign with an impressive 6-3, 6-0 victory over Anna Karolina Schmiedlova.

The 19-year-old expressed nerves but managed to settle down and play solid tennis, setting the stage for a clash with unseeded American Caroline Dolehide in the next round.

In the men’s category, Medvedev faced a challenging encounter against French qualifier Terence Atmane, who retired in tears due to severe cramping. Despite the tough conditions, Medvedev secured the win and advanced to face Finland’s unseeded Emil Ruusuvuori in the next round.

Stefanos Tsitsipas, the men’s seventh seed, overcame an initial setback against Belgian lucky loser Zizou Bergs to win convincingly 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, 6-3. On the other hand, the five-time finalist Andy Murray’s journey in Melbourne came to an end with a defeat to Argentine 30th seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry.

Murray acknowledged that it might be his last appearance at the tournament, reflecting on a challenging performance.

The women’s draw saw surprises as Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova and veteran Andy Murray made early exits. Vondrousova struggled with injuries, falling 6-1, 6-2 to Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Yastremska.

Yastremska, sporting the slogan “Be brave like Ukraine” on her bag, expressed pride in her homeland and set up a clash with unseeded Frenchwoman Varvara Gracheva.

As the first day unfolded, the Australian Open showcased the unpredictable nature of tennis, with both established stars and emerging talents making headlines in Melbourne.