Disappointed Osaka Falls at First Hurdle on Grand Slam Return

Japan's Naomi Osaka in action during her first round match against France's Caroline Garcia in Australian Open, at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 15, 2024. Edgar Su/Reuters

MELBOURNE—Naomi Osaka was disappointed to bow out of the Australian Open in the first round on her Grand Slam return on Monday but thought she was making rapid progress in her comeback after 15 months out of the game.

The Japanese former world number one, who took time out to have daughter Shai, went down 6–4, 7–6(2) to French 16th seed Caroline Garcia on the Rod Laver Arena court where she won two of her four Grand Slam titles.