Osaka wins at Wimbledon for the first time in six years

WIMBLEDON, England (AP):

NAOMI OSAKA had not won a match at Wimbledon in six years. Hadn’t even played there in five. Grass courts never were her favourite surface.

Twelve months ago at this time, Osaka was off the tour while becoming a mother – her daughter, Shai, turns one today – and recalls flipping on the TV in the hospital and seeing a certain Grand Slam event on the screen.

“I’m just really excited to be here,” Osaka said yesterday after pulling out a 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 victory over Diane Parry in the first round at the All England Club by taking the last two games from four-all in the third set.

“It’s funny, because Wimbledon was the first tournament I watched after pregnancy.”

On a day when there was plenty of focus away from the courts and instead on the health and status of various players who have been ranked number-one and won multiple major championships – tournament favourite Aryna Sabalenka and Victoria Azarenka, each a two-time Australian Open winner dealing with a bum shoulder, withdrew hours before they were due on court; Andy Murray, twice a titlist at Wimbledon, was trying to decide whether to compete less than 10 days after surgery to remove a cyst from his spinal cord – another person fitting that description, Osaka, was making a happy return.

She’s won the US Open and Australian Open twice apiece on hard courts, but never has been past the third round on either Wimbledon’s grass or the French Open’s clay. Osaka had not entered Wimbledon since a first-round loss in 2019, and while she’s topped the WTA in the past, she is now No. 113 in the rankings after being off the tour for 15 months until returning in January.

Before facing the 53rd-ranked Parry, Osaka said, she was sifting through pictures on her phone.

“They have that feature, ‘This time last year.’ I was looking at that. I was looking at photos of myself in the hospital. It’s really cool to be here now,” Osaka said.

“My mindset last year was just trying to survive. Honestly, I didn’t really know what was going on after I gave birth; just trying to piece myself back together.”

Other big names who won on Day 1 at Wimbledon included reigning US Open champion Coco Gauff, 2021 US Open winner Emma Raducanu and three-time major champion Carlos Alcaraz, all on Centre Court.