“I did that while I walked out,” Naomi Osaka seems hopeful about her 2024 season ahead as she discusses her Grand Slam rituals after a shocking first round defeat at the Australian Open

Naomi Osaka faced a shocking defeat against Caroline Garcia in the first round of the AO 2024.

“I did that while I walked out,” Naomi Osaka seems hopeful about her 2024 season ahead as she discusses her Grand Slam rituals after a shocking first round defeat at the Australian Open

Naomi Osaka (Image via: Imago)

The two-time Australian Open champion and the player back in town, Naomi Osaka, faced a shocking defeat in the first round of the AO 2024. 

Battling French player and World No. 16 Caroline Garcia, the match ended pretty soon for Osaka as Garcia won in a commendable straight set. 6-4, 7(7)-6(2).

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Facing an unfortunate loss, one would believe Osaka to be heartbroken, but the Japanese seemed pretty hopeful about her remaining season. During the post-match conference, she talked about a ritual that she has been performing since the start of her career. 

When asked about all the memories that might have flooded as soon as she stepped onto the Rod Laver arena. 

Yeah, I mean, I have this ritual of tapping my name, so I did that while I walked out (smiling).
She said

One could easily contrast the change of attitude in the Japanese player. Having gone through lots of turmoil in her young career, there was a time when Osaka thought her career was over. But this time, she was all smiling and embracing her defeat.

I was really grateful to walk on the court. I was grateful they put me on that court in the first place. Yeah, just really fun.
She said.

As the Australian Open begins with all its charm, fans of Osaka are eager to see how she will unfold herself in the upcoming events of the 2024 season.

Read More: Naomi Osaka loses in straight sets at the Australian Open as Caroline Garcia progresses to the second round

An early exit for ‘new mom’ Osaka

The clash with Garcia, an aggressive baseliner like Osaka, was a huge challenge for the two-time Australian Open champion.

Despite demonstrating the power that propelled her to four Grand Slam titles before her break, Osaka battled to maintain her precision in critical periods of the match.

Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka (CBS News)

The turning point in the opening set occurred in the fifth game, when Osaka double-faulted, giving Garcia the first breakpoint.

The French player seized the opportunity, quickly converting it to take the lead. Despite having a chance to break back in the eighth game, Osaka’s vital blunder on a routine backhand cost her the opportunity, allowing Garcia to seal the set with back-to-back aces.

In the second set, Osaka showed off her abilities by winning her first three service games to love. However, Garcia’s superb serving abilities and Osaka’s inability to apply pressure resulted in a closely contested set that was finally settled in a tiebreak.

Garcia dominated the tiebreak, establishing a significant lead with precision on her first serves. The match ended on Garcia’s first match point, as Osaka made another backhand error, resulting in her earliest departure in eight Australian Open appearances.

This is Osaka’s third consecutive first-round loss in a Grand Slam event, following her early departures from the French Open and the United States Open in 2022.

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