Defending champion Naomi Osaka also progressed confidently. The Japanese prevailed against Camila Osorio from Colombia 6:3, 6:3. Nadal, who won the tournament in 2009, is the only former Australian Open champion in the men’s field. The fifth in the world rankings had paused for several months last year due to a complicated foot injury. In preparation for the Australian Open, he made a perfect comeback by winning a tournament in Melbourne. At the Grand Slam tournament there, he could benefit from the absence of world number one Novak Djokovic. Like the Serb, he has already accumulated 20 titles in the four main tournaments.
Last year’s winner Djokovic left Melbourne on Sunday after Australia’s federal court rejected his appeal against the cancellation of his visa due to his lack of a corona vaccination.
Osaka retired from tennis after the US Open last September and took a longer break. She had previously made her depression public. At the beginning of January, the 24-year-old returned to the tour after a four-month break. The former number one is currently only 14 in the world rankings. Austria is not represented in the individual competitions of the Grand Slam tournament.
Source: Nachrichten
