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Naomi Osaka's highly awaited return to Grand Slam tennis was cut short in the first round, as the two-time Australian Open champion was defeated by 16th seed Carolina Garcia with scores of 4-6, 6-7 (2) at the Rod Laver Arena on Monday, January 15. Coming back after a 15-month break from the tour and six months following the birth of her daughter, Shai, Osaka displayed readiness for top-level competition, challenging the in-form Garcia in a closely fought two-set match in Melbourne.
JABEUR OFF TO A STRONG START
Three-time Grand Slam finalist Ons Jabeur made a commanding entrance into the women's singles second round, defeating Yuliia Starodubtseva with scores of 6-3, 6-1 on Monday. Jabeur expressed her delight at returning to the Australian Open, having opted for rest before the tournament. Recalling her less successful campaign last year and the support she received from fans who have followed her since her qualifying days in 2016, Jabeur felt encouraged and less stressed. The 6th seed is set to play against Mirra Andreeva, one of the three 16-year-olds who progressed to the second round of the women's singles at the Australian Open 2024.
VONDROUSOVA'S GRAND SLAM QUEST DELAYED
Marketa Vondrousova's aspiration to reach the quarterfinals in all four Grand Slams remains unfulfilled, as the current Wimbledon champion was ousted from the Australian Open 2024. She faced a challenging match at John Cain Arena, succumbing to the powerful play of Dayana Yastremska with scores of 6-1, 6-2. Yastremska, known for her aggressive style, advanced into the main draw after enduring three-set battles in all her qualifying matches as the top seed.
SVITOLINA'S REMARKABLE COMEBACK
Elina Svitolina made a significant return to the tennis circuit last April, post the birth of her daughter Skai, resulting in her missing the Australian Open 2023. Her impressive performances, including a quarterfinal at Roland-Garros and a semifinal at Wimbledon, catapulted her to 25th in the world rankings, a remarkable rise from having no ranking at her comeback event. This extraordinary comeback earned her the WTA’s Comeback Player of the Year award. Svitolina demonstrated her prowess by defeating Grand Slam singles debutant wildcard Taylah Preston with a convincing 6-2, 6-2 victory.
MAIA SECURES SPOT IN SECOND ROUND
Brazilian 10th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia overcame Linda Fruhvirtova of the Czech Republic with scores of 6-2, 3-6, 6-2. This victory sets her up for a second-round match against qualifier Alina Korneeva.
PAVLYUCHENKOVA ADVANCES PAST VEKIC
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova's first-round match against Donna Vekic was a highlight, featuring two strong contenders. Pavlyuchenkova, a Grand Slam finalist, is on her way back from a serious knee injury, while Vekic had reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open 2023, matching her best performance at a major. Both players have had their share of injury struggles and are known for their resilience and competitive spirit. Pavlyuchenkova continued her winning streak against the Croatian, having defeated her last September, and secured another victory with a 6-4, 6-4 win over the 21st seed at Margaret Court Arena, following her close quarterfinal loss to world No.5 Jessica Pegula in Adelaide last week.
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