BRISBANE: Former world number one and new mother Naomi Osaka said on Monday she was proud to have won her first match back after 15 months out, admitting she had been “super nervous”.

The 26-year-old was on court for an hour and 47 minutes before finally seeing off gallant German Tamara Korpatsch 6-3, 7-6 (11/9) on Pat Rafter Arena in the first round of the Brisbane International.

The 26-year-old from Japan last competed on tour at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo in September 2022 and had her first child, daughter Shai, in July before stepping up her preparations for the Jan 14-28 Australian Open.

“I was super nervous playing the entire time but I was really excited to be out here. It feels really good to be back,” Osaka said. “Looking back on the match now, honestly I’m very proud of myself. I feel like I played at a pretty good level.”

Osaka displayed no signs of rust when she broke Korpatsch to love in the opening game then broke once more to take the first set relatively easily. But it was a different story in the second set as Korpatsch lifted and Osaka began to feel the pressure.

Korpatsch broke Osaka’s serve to start the second set and although the Japanese star broke straight back, she was no longer as settled against the tenacious German.

Osaka did break once more and was serving for the match at 5-4, but she was broken again and it went to a tiebreak, where both players had their chances.

Osaka squandered two match points and Korpa­tsch two set points before Osaka prevailed on her third opportunity with a powerful forehand.

Up next for Osaka is former world number one Karolina Pliskova, who received a bye into the second round.

In the men’s draw, Roman Safiullin stunned third seed Ben Shelton 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3 in a match lasting over two-and-a-half hours under the roof at Pat Rafter Arena but persistent rain halted play on the outside courts and forced several matches to be cancelled.

World number eight and top seed Holger Rune came from a set down to defeat Australian Max Purcell. The big serving Purcell took the opening set against a rusty looking Rune, but the Dane became increasingly assured as the match wore on and took charge to win 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.

Second seed Grigor Dimitrov was also recovered from losing the first set to defeat former world number one Andy Murray 4-6, 7-5, 6-2.

Published in Dawn, January 2nd, 2024