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The break is over for Naomi Osaka. The former world number one returned to the courts with a victory in the first round of the Melbourne tournament on Tuesday, January 4, against the French Alizé Cornet. Absent from the circuit since the beginning of September and his premature elimination at the US Open. the Japanese had explained that she wanted to take a step back to bring her mental health to the fore. At times still nervous on Tuesday, she ended up winning in three sets (6-4, 3-6, 6-3). A return to the courts that she compared “to a breath of fresh air”. “I really only have one major goal this year, and it has nothing to do with my results,” she said at a press conference after the match. I just want to feel like I’m having fun every time I step on a court. It’s still too early to talk about New Year’s Resolutions. But seeing Naomi Osaka smiling on a tennis court is already a good sign. On a court that has seen her become one of the queens of women’s tennis – she won the Australian Open twice – the current 13th player in the world regained some sensations, without fully controlling her nerves. At the helm of the meeting (6-4, 3-1), she was scared, frustrated by the good series of Alizé Cornet, victorious five consecutive games.
