Naomi Osaka returns to elite tennis from a maternity break and wins her first match in Brisbane
Naomi Osaka’s first win at the elite level since becoming a mother didn’t come easily
BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Motherhood has helped give Naomi Osaka a new mindset when things are getting tough on court.
In her first competitive match since September 2022, the four-time major winner was broken while serving for the match and needed three match points in the tiebreaker before converting a 6-3, 7-6 (9) victory over Tamara Korpatsch on Monday at the Brisbane International.
Osaka didn't play the Australian Open last year and later revealed she was pregnant. She and her partner, rapper Cordae, became parents to daughter Shai in Los Angeles in July.
“It’s a big change overnight,” former No. 1-ranked Osaka said of returning to the tour as a mom. "For me, I love it a lot because ... in a way I would say (Shai) has helped me grow up so much so quickly.
