Two-time Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka hopes to play her first-round match against Caroline Garcia despite saying her abdominal injury has not completely healed.
Osaka, 27, had been reduced to tears on Sunday after she was forced out of the Auckland final against Clara Tauson while leading 6-4. It was a setback for her as she advanced to her first WTA Tour final in nearly three years.
Speaking to reporters Friday, the Japanese star said her MRI results were not good but was confident about competing in Melbourne.
“O.K. The MRI, it wasn’t amazing, but at the same time it wasn’t bad,” Osaka said. “So, with all that said, I’m very optimistic about playing my match. For sure, I’m going to play.”
Osaka would be hoping to build on her strong start to the season with new coach Patrick Mouratoglou, who she began working with in September, having trained well since arriving in Melbourne.
“Clearly, I did quite well [in Auckland]. I lost, I lost, I lost in the final — debatable. I won it in my head,” she joked. “I look forward to playing here, especially with Patrick, because technically, we haven’t lost yet. So yeah, few good run, I guess.”
Osaka will take on Garcia in the first round for the second year in a row after falling 6-4, 7-6 to the Frenchwoman last year. Still, she holds no ill will toward her opponent.
“I really respect her a lot. “I have the same vibes coming from her,” Osaka said. “We also share the same birthday, so I can’t ever have bad blood with a fellow Libra.”
Osaka last week joined the list of big hitters in Melbourne Park and looks to make a deep run as she continues her return from a year-long break from the sport.
