“Crack the ball again and…” Andy Murray’s 2022 verdict on Naomi Osaka is now breaking the internet as the WTA icon makes a solid comeback

Andy Murray's old tweet where he praised Naomi Osaka resurfaces after her first-round win at the Brisbane International.

“Crack the ball again and…” Andy Murray’s 2022 verdict on Naomi Osaka is now breaking the internet as the WTA icon makes a solid comeback

Andy Murray (L), Naomi Osaka (R) (Source: Sky Sports, New York Times)

After Naomi Osaka won her first-round match in the ongoing Brisbane International 2024, an old tweet by Andy Murray in which he praised the Japanese tennis great resurfaced.

Back in 2022, during Naomi Osaka’s second-round match in the Australian Open against America’s Madison Brengle, Andy Murray commended one of her plays.

Anyone hit the ball cleaner from the baseline than @naomiosaka?
He tweeted. 
YouTube video

After beating Madison Brengle 6-0, 6-4, and proceeding to the third round, Naomi Osaka said that she was pretty shocked to be praised by Andy Murray.

FS Video
Because when you're playing, you never really think about [how] the TV is broadcasting it and other people are watching.
She said

Later, however, she returned the favor by praising him back on Twitter. 

Anyone put their heart on their sleeve and fight harder than @andy_murray?
She wrote. 

That year, Naomi Osaka was the defending champion at the Australian Open, and she ended up losing to Amanda Anisimova in her very next match in the third round. She missed the 2023 Australian Open as she was pregnant with her first child during that time, but she will take part in the tournament this year. 

Her initial plan was to make her comeback directly in the Grand Slam but she later decided to participate in the Brisbane International as it would give her some prior practice ahead of the Australian Open.

Naomi Osaka is one of the favorites to win the 2024 Brisbane Open 

The four-time Grand Slam title winner completely dominated Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch in the first round of the 2023 Brisbane International. She won the match 6-3, 7-6 (11-9) to proceed to the third round, where she will now face Karolina Pliskova. 

Osaka looked completely fresh in her first-round match, and it shows that she has prepared well for her comeback. This now makes her one of the favorites to win the tournament. 

Naomi Osaka (L), Karolina Pliskova (R)
Naomi Osaka (L), Karolina Pliskova (R) (Source: Wikipedia, Tennis.com)

However, to realize that dream, Naomi Osaka will have to go up against the likes of Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, and Marta Kostyuk, who are some of the biggest names taking part in the tournament.

But before that, she has to face the challenge of Karolina Pliskova, who has a good record against the Japanese (3-2). Both Pliskova and Naomi Osaka are returning from injuries. The Czech international had ended her 2023 season early after suffering a wrist injury. 

In case you missed it: