Return of the champion: Naomi Osaka lands at Australian Open for first practice ahead of Melbourne comeback

Former world number one Japan's Naomi Osaka has started her preparation for the Australia Open 2023. The 26-year-old has recently returned to professional tennis after a gap of more than one year.

Osaka, in a post on her official account on the social media platform Instagram, posted a picture of the Rod Laver Arena as she started her preparation ahead of the first Grand Slam of the year.

Osaka has a fabulous record while playing in Melbourne where she has already lifted the title two times. The first of those titles came in 20219 where she defeated the Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova in the final with a score of 7–6(7–2), 5–7, 6–4.

Two years later in 2021, Osaka once again lifted the Australian Open when she defeated America’s Jennifer Brady in the final in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 6-3.

Osaka’s return to the court did not go as planned at the Brisbane International. She secured a win in the round of 64 clash against Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 7-6. However, her journey came to an end after losing in the round of 32 to Karolina Pliskova with a score of 3-6, 7-6, 6-4.