Osaka's first tournament as a mom ends in a loss to 3-time winner Pliskova in Brisbane
Naomi Osaka’s first tournament at the elite level since becoming a mother has ended in a second-round loss to three-time champion Karolina Pliskova at the Brisbane International
BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Naomi Osaka’s first tournament since becoming a mother ended in a 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4 second-round loss Wednesday to three-time champion Karolina Pliskova at the Brisbane International.
Osaka, who has won the Australian Open and the U.S. Open singles titles twice, won her first match at the elite level since late 2022 on Monday in straight sets against Tamara Korpatsch.
After that win, she said the birth in July of her daughter, Shai, and the changes to her mindset since becoming a mother had given her a better perspective on tennis.
A second-round encounter featuring two former No. 1-ranked players was a step up in tempo and a better indication of how Osaka’s preparations are going for the Australian Open starting Jan. 14 in Melbourne.
