SYDNEY: Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka was rusty on her return to action for the first time in four months but still advanced to the second round of the Melbourne Summer Set tournament with a 6-4 3-6 6-3 win over Alize Cornet on Tuesday.
Osaka, who last played competitively when she lost to Leylah Fernandez in the third round of the U.S. Open in September, displayed plenty of her trademark power but often lacked accuracy at the Australian Open warm-up event.
The Japanese player struggled with her first serve while committing 57 unforced errors, including eight double faults, as she eventually saw off the former world number 11.
"I feel like I probably made a lot of unforced errors today but I kind of expected that because it is the first match," said Osaka.
"I was really nervous so I'm just glad that I was able to hold my serve on the last game."
The match was the first since Osaka announced she was taking an indefinite break from tennis following her loss to Fernandez at Flushing Meadows.
That decision brought an end to a season that had also seen her withdraw from the French Open citing mental health issues and miss Wimbledon during a mid-season hiatus.
Playing on the same Rod Laver Arena court where she has won two Australian Open titles, the former world number one looked to be in a relaxed mood in the opening set in front of a small crowd.
"I really love playing here," said Osaka. "I love New York, but this might be my favourite Slam so it feels really good to always be back here.
"It feels really nice to play in front of people."
The 24-year-old squandered three break points in the fifth game but made amends two games later to take the opener.
After an early break in the second set, Osaka looked to be heading for a comfortable win but the loss of four consecutive games saw Cornet pull level.
Osaka, who is now ranked number 13 in the world, regained her poise early in the third set, winning the first three games before closing out the match.
Reuters
Tue Jan 04 2022
![Tennis: Rusty Osaka sees off Cornet in error-strewn return Tennis: Rusty Osaka sees off Cornet in error-strewn return](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-01/81641279503_Osaka.jpg)
Tennis - WTA 250 - Melbourne Summer Set - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 4, 2022 Japan's Naomi Osaka in action during her round of 32 match against France's Alize Cornet. - REUTERS/Loren Elliott
![Hukuman penjara bapa lakukan serangan seksual ke atas 3 anak perempuan dikurangkan Hukuman penjara bapa lakukan serangan seksual ke atas 3 anak perempuan dikurangkan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/51714453013_courtgavelmahkam.jpg)
Hukuman penjara bapa lakukan serangan seksual ke atas 3 anak perempuan dikurangkan
Dalam penghakimannya, Che Mohd Ruzima berkata perayu gagal membuktikan bahawa Mahkamah Sesyen terkhilaf dalam memutuskan kes itu.
Malaysia-Brunei adakan rundingan mudahkan urusan Imigresen
Malaysia dan Brunei akan mengadakan rundingan bagi memudahkan proses keluar masuk rakyat kedua-dua negara.
![Pan-gon mahu kekal hubungan baik dengan Malaysia Pan-gon mahu kekal hubungan baik dengan Malaysia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721124936_KimPanGon.jpg)
Pan-gon mahu kekal hubungan baik dengan Malaysia
Bekas ketua jurulatih Harimau Malaya Kim Pan-gon mahu mengekalkan hubungan baik dengan skuad itu biarpun tidak lagi bersama.
Kos pampasan tanah fasa 1B proses Projek LPB Sabah RM1.2 bilion - Alexander
Anggaran kos pengambilan balik tanah bagi keseluruhan Fasa 1B proses pengambilan tanah dan penilaian pampasan tanah bagi Projek Lebuh Raya Pan Borneo Sabah (LPB Sabah) berjumlah RM1.2 bilion.
Sentiasa berhati-hati, ribut petir diramal berlaku di Sabah
Orang ramai khususnya yang tinggal di kawasan berisiko di Sabah disaran agar bersiap siaga terutama dari segi perubahan cuaca yang tidak menentu yang seterusnya akan mengakibatkan bencana banjir dan pokok tumbang.
Nasib acara sepak takraw wanita diketahui Khamis ini
Nasib acara sepak takraw wanita berpasukan dalam Sukan Malaysia (SUKMA) edisi ke-21 di Sarawak akan ditentukan dalam Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa SUKMA Peringkat Kebangsaan pada Khamis ini.
JPBM Sabah serah jentera khas buat pasukan sukarela
Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia (JBPM) negeri Sabah sedang dalam perancangan untuk menyerahkan jentera khas, iaitu Volunter Fire Rescue Tender (VFRT) untuk Pasukan Bomba Sukarela (PBS) di Sabah.
Sarawak akan pertahan pingat sukan Muay Thai edisi lalu
Skuad Sarawak akan berusaha mempertahankan masing-masing dua emas, perak dan gangsa dalam kejohanan SUKMA yang dimenangi dalam edisi lalu.
![Usaha pujuk Pan-gon tidak berhasil - Yusoff Mahadi Usaha pujuk Pan-gon tidak berhasil - Yusoff Mahadi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721124841_TBFAM.jpg)
Usaha pujuk Pan-gon tidak berhasil - Yusoff Mahadi
FAM pernah berusaha memujuk Kim Pan-gon untuk terus mengemudi skuad Harimau Malaya hingga kontraknya tamat secara rasmi pada akhir tahun depan.
![Kaspersky tinggalkan pasaran AS bermula 20 Julai ini Kaspersky tinggalkan pasaran AS bermula 20 Julai ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-02/51708604164_kasperskyancamans.jpg)
Kaspersky tinggalkan pasaran AS bermula 20 Julai ini
Kaspersky mengesahkan kurang 50 pekerja akan terkesan, dan mereka akan diberikan pampasan susulan penutupan syarikat tersebut.
![Tenis Terbuka Australia: Serena pamer aksi cemerlang, selesa ke pusingan ketiga Tenis Terbuka Australia: Serena pamer aksi cemerlang, selesa ke pusingan ketiga](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-02/61612946020_TennisAustralian.jpg)
Tenis Terbuka Australia: Serena pamer aksi cemerlang, selesa ke pusingan ketiga
Serena Williams berjaya mengetepikan bintang Serbia, Nina Stojanovic pada Terbuka Australia untuk kemenangan 6-3, 6-0 di Melbourne Park.
![Novak Djokovic muncul juara Terbuka Australia 2020 Novak Djokovic muncul juara Terbuka Australia 2020](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2020-02/41580648437_NovakDjokovic.jpg)
Novak Djokovic muncul juara Terbuka Australia 2020
Novak Djokovic muncul juara perseorangan lelaki kejohanan tenis Terbuka Australia 2020 selepas berjaya membenam Dominic Thiem sebentar tadi.
![Terbuka Australia: Thiem tempah aksi dengan Djokovic untuk takhta kejuaraan Terbuka Australia: Thiem tempah aksi dengan Djokovic untuk takhta kejuaraan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2020-01/81580480046_australianopen.jpg)
Terbuka Australia: Thiem tempah aksi dengan Djokovic untuk takhta kejuaraan
Austria Dominic Thiem mara ke final Terbuka Australia buat kali pertama selepas tundukkan Alexander Zverev sebentar tadi.
![Federer terkandas, Djokovic buru kejuaraan ke-8 Terbuka Australia Federer terkandas, Djokovic buru kejuaraan ke-8 Terbuka Australia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2020-01/61580384639_djokernole.jpg)
Federer terkandas, Djokovic buru kejuaraan ke-8 Terbuka Australia
Roger Federer gagal melepasi Novak Djokovic untuk mara ke final Terbuka Australia 2020.
![Terbuka Australia: Nadal layak ke suku akhir kali ke-10 Terbuka Australia: Nadal layak ke suku akhir kali ke-10](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2018-01/51516528110_RafaelNadal.jpg)
Terbuka Australia: Nadal layak ke suku akhir kali ke-10
Rafael Nadal bertarung bagi mendapatkan tempat ke perlawanan suku akhir Terbuka Australia selepas menundukkan Diego Schwartzman, sebentar tadi.
![Terbuka Australia: Wozniacki mara ke suku akhir Terbuka Australia: Wozniacki mara ke suku akhir](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2018-01/41516518532_AustralianOpen.jpg)
Terbuka Australia: Wozniacki mara ke suku akhir
Caroline Wozniacki melangkah ke suku akhir Terbuka Australia buat kali pertama sejak 2012 selepas melakar kemenangan ke atas Magdalena Rybarikova.
![Djokovic doubtful for Australian Open after withdrawing from Abu Dhabi event Djokovic doubtful for Australian Open after withdrawing from Abu Dhabi event](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2017-07/81501124030_tennisplayerNovak.jpg)
Djokovic doubtful for Australian Open after withdrawing from Abu Dhabi event
The 12-time grand slam winner was scheduled to kickstart the new season against Roberto Bautista Agut but was advised by his medical team to skip the tournament just hours before the match.