The two-time champion lost to Garcia last year in Melbourne, her first major appearance since becoming a mother, and navigated three sets with the French star.

A pair of blockbuster women's matches, plus defending champ Jannik Sinner takes the court on Rod Laver Arena.

"This is starting to be a classic," the Frenchwoman wrote in a post on X, tagging Osaka ahead of their fourth meeting in the span of a year.