WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, celebrated her return to competitive tennis on Monday after being sidelined for nearly three months. This notable comeback occurred during the opening round of the ASB Tennis Classic in Auckland, despite facing external protests directed at her opponent from Israel.
Osaka secured a victory against qualifier Lina Glushko with a score of 6-4, 6-4, marking her first match since her abrupt end to the 2024 season due to a back injury sustained at the China Open last October.
In this match, Osaka displayed the key components of her renowned style: a powerful serve, commanding ground-strokes—particularly from her forehand—and a competitive spirit. She appeared at ease on the court, a notable indication that her recent injury issues were not affecting her performance.
The match presented challenges as Osaka had to contend with gusty winds on center court. Additionally, intermittent interruptions from a small group of protesters outside the stadium were heard within the arena. The contest experienced an extended pause when Glushko sought treatment for a hip issue while Osaka was about to serve out the first set.
Reflecting on the distractions, Osaka stated, “I just heard a lot of shouting, and then people on the sidelines were telling me there were protests. I had no idea what the score was most of the time. I just kept trying to remind myself to focus on one point at a time and not get discouraged. Thankfully, it worked out in my favor.”
Osaka had the advantage of her new coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, at her side, who is known for his previous long-term partnership with tennis legend Serena Williams.
Her match began strongly as she managed to break Glushko in the third game of the first set and maintained her lead to win the set 6-4. The second set proved more competitive; after breaking Glushko again early in the set, Glushko responded by converting her only break point, tying the match at 2-2.
With Glushko temporarily taking the lead at 4-3, Osaka elevated her play, holding her serve with two aces to even the score at 4-4. Then she broke Glushko to go up 5-4 and subsequently served decisively to seal her victory.
Throughout the match, Osaka’s serve was impressive. She tallied seven aces and won 74 percent of her first serve points, averaging speeds of around 180 km/h (111 mph) on her first serve and about 140 km/h (87 mph) on her slice serves.
Commenting on her opponent, Osaka expressed, “I think she’s a really amazing opponent. I’ve never played her before, so it was good to have to scrap a little for the first round.”
