Tennis-Nostalgic Osaka seeks third Australian Open crown

Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 12, 2024 Japan's Naomi Osaka during press conference ahead of the Australian Open REUTERS/Edgar Su

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Memories of her two previous titles at the Australian Open have made it hard for Naomi Osaka not to dream of holding aloft the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup once again as she marks her return in a first-round meeting with Caroline Garcia on Monday.

Osaka has reached at least the third round in six of her seven appearances on Melbourne's blue hard courts, winning the 2019 and 2021 titles.