The Frenchwoman was beaten as soon as she entered the fray by Naomi Osaka (6-3 3-6 6-3) this Monday at the Australian Open.
The step was too high. Back on the circuit after almost four months of absence to recharge her batteries psychologically, Caroline Garcia (68th in the world) lost Tuesday in the first round of the Australian Open against the Japanese Naomi Osaka (51st).
A year after beating the four-time Grand Slam winner at the same stage of the tournament, the Frenchwoman this time lost 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
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Quadruple Grand Slam winner, twice titled in Australia, the Japanese (51st in the world) will face the Czech Karolina Muchova (20th) in the second round, who swept Argentina’s Nadia Podoroska (96th) 6-1, 6-1.
Osaka confirms her good form at the start of the season, after reaching the final of the Auckland tournament in early January, an unprecedented performance for her since her return to the courts at the start of 2024, after giving birth to her first child.
Garcia was too fair
Affected in the abdominals when she won the first set against the Dane Clara Tauson (42nd), the Japanese was forced to retire in New Zealand. In Melbourne, Garcia played his first match in almost four months. Injured in the shoulder and mentally exhausted, the Frenchwoman ended her 2024 season at the end of September.
