Naomi Osaka expressed hope not to draw Caroline Garcia again at the Australian Open and exactly that happened.
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On Thursday, the draw for the opening Grand Slam of the year was released and it revealed that first-round action would see the two-time Australian Open champion and the Frenchwoman taking on each other.
Last year, the two also met in the first round at Melbourne Park and Garcia won 6-4 7-6 (2).
After Osaka hired Patrick Mouratoglou in October, she had one early goalfor their partnership - improve her ranking so she is seeded in Melbourne - but it wasn't possible after she sustained back and abdominal injuries in their first tournament together.
When sharing those goals, the former world No. 1 funnily noted she would like to avoid facing the 2022 WTA Finals in the Australian Open first round again.
"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," the current world No. 50 said.
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Osaka was 'really frustrated' following last year's Australian Open first-round loss
Although the four-time Grand Slam champion was just at the start of her post-pregnancy comeback and there was really no reason for her to put pressure or expectations on herself, the Japanese didn't feel well at all after exiting the Happy Slam very early.
The competitive in me is really frustrated that Im not winning these matches, of course, she said in her presser after the match.
So I wouldnt say, like, this comeback is how I thought because Im delusional enough to think I could have won the tournament.
Later that year, Osaka beat Garcia in Doha but lost to the Frenchwoman again in Miami.
It will be interesting to see if the Japanese can make amends for last year's loss and send the former world No. 4 packing out of Melbourne after round one.
