Naomi Osaka expressed her desire to avoid facing Caroline Garcia once again at the Australian Open, and her wish was not granted as fate had them pitted against each other in the first round.

On Thursday, the much-anticipated draw for the opening Grand Slam of the year was unveiled, revealing that the two-time champion of the Australian Open will be squaring off against the talented French player right away. This matchup promises to be thrilling, especially given their previous encounter.

Last year, both athletes met in the first round at Melbourne Park, where Garcia emerged victorious with a score of 6-4, 7-6 (2). This history adds another layer of excitement to their upcoming clash.

Following her decision to hire renowned coach Patrick Mouratoglou in October, Osaka had set an early objective for their partnership: to enhance her ranking to secure a seeded position in Melbourne. Unfortunately, this goal became unattainable due to back and abdominal injuries she sustained during their first tournament together.

While sharing her aspirations, the former world No. 1 humorously noted her desire to steer clear of facing the 2022 WTA Finals champion in the first round of the Australian Open once again. She stated, “My goal now, I think to be seeded in Australia. I would really love that. I would love to avoid Caroline Garcia (smiling). Yeah, just being seeded. But not putting too much pressure on myself. I’m just trying to take it day by day,” reflecting her current mindset as the world No. 50.

Osaka’s Emotional Response to Last Year’s Australian Open First-Round Defeat

Despite being in the early stages of her post-pregnancy comeback, the four-time Grand Slam champion, Naomi Osaka, felt an overwhelming sense of disappointment after her early exit from the Australian Open, commonly referred to as the Happy Slam. There was no substantial reason for her to feel pressured, yet the Japanese star was clearly affected by the loss.

“The competitive in me is really frustrated that I’m not winning these matches, of course,” she articulated during her press conference after the match. Her candid remarks highlight the mental and emotional challenges athletes face, even when they are navigating a comeback.

“So I wouldn’t say, like, this comeback is how I thought because I’m delusional enough to think I could have won the tournament,” she added, illustrating her high expectations for herself and her determination to perform at her best.

Later in the same year, Osaka managed to defeat Garcia in Doha, yet faced another defeat against the Frenchwoman in Miami. This back-and-forth rivalry sets the stage for their impending rematch, creating anticipation for whether Osaka can turn the tables and eliminate the former world No. 4 from the tournament right from the first round.