Naomi Osaka's return to grand slam tennis has ended with a straight sets defeat, while Alex de Minaur continues his red hot start to 2024.

Osaka, a two-time champion at Melbourne Park, was playing just her third match since returning to tennis following the birth of her first child in July.

The Japanese former world number one drew French 16th seed Caroline Garcia in the final match on Rod Laver Arena on Monday night.

Osaka was not at the level of play which saw her rise to the top of women's tennis, but she was valiant against Garcia who struggled against top players in 2023.

Garcia secured the only break of the first set, and was able to win a tie-break in the second to secure a hard-fought 6-4, 7-6(7/2) victory.

Garcia was full of praise for Osaka post-match, warning the tennis world that the Japanese was playing at a high level despite giving birth just six months ago.

"I have a lot of respect for Naomi as a person and player," Garcia said.

"She's had an amazing career. She was away for 15 months. She's been through a lot.

"She's a great girl and she's done so much for our tennis in the last few years.

"Six months after giving birth she's playing amazing already. We have to watch out."

Meanwhile, Alex de Minaur is through to the second round of the Australian Open, following the retirement of Milos Raonic in their match on Monday evening.

He was tested early against Raonic, a former world number three, who is trying to return to his best after several serious injuries.

Raonic took the first set in a tie-break, but did take a medical timeout while up 5-4 with what appeared to be an issue with his hip.

After an opening set with no service breaks, de Minaur secured the first break of the match in the sixth game of the second set, on his way to levelling the match 6-7(6/8), 6-3.

Raonic's serve was broken to open the third set, with the Canadian clearly labouring.

Down 2-0, Raonic offered his hand to de Minaur as his body could no longer withstand the pain.

"I hope he has a speedy recovery. Not great to see him like this," a solemn de Minaur said post-match.

Keep across all the latest from Melbourne Park in our blog below, check out live scores with our ScoreCentre, and tune in to our live radio coverage

Australians in action on day two

• Storm Hunter (Q) def Sara Errani 6-4, 6-3
• Elina Svitolina (19) def Taylah Preston (WC) 6-2, 6-2
• Alexei Popyrin def Marc Polmans (WC) 6-3, 7-6(7/3), 6-2
• Luca van Assche def James Duckworth (WC) 6-7(2/7), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3,
• Magdalena Frech def Daria Saville (WC) 6-7(5-7), 6-3, 7-5 
• Jordan Thompson def Aleksander Vukic 3-6, 7-6(7/3), 6-2, 3-6, 6-4
• Jan-Lennard Struff (24) def Rinky Hijikata 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-7(2/7), 7-6(10/8)
• Hubert Hurkacz (9) def Omar Jasika (Q) 7-6(7/4), 6-4, 6-2
• Alex de Minaur (10) def Milos Raonic 6-7, (6/8) 6-3, 2-0 (Raonic retires)

That is where we leave the blog today

That was a full day of action, with Rinky Hijikata giving us a thrilling five-set match.

Thank-you for joining us throughout the day as we continue our live coverage of the Australian Open.

We return for day three tomorrow (later this morning? What time is it?) to finish off the first round of matches.

We will see you then.

Jan-Lennard Struff defeats Rinky Hijikata in a five-set thriller

German Jan-Lennard Struff has triumphed 10-8 in the final set tie-break to win an epic.

Struff leading 8-5 in a race to 10

Rinky is holding on, but the German is almost there.

We are off to a tie-break as Hijikata holds serve

We have a 10-point tie-break to decide this epic first round match.

Struff makes it 6-5 with a near flawless service game

Four unanswered points for Struff and he leads 6-5.

That means he is guaranteed a tie-break.

Rinky must hold serve to force that.

Rinky holds serve to make it 5-5

Rinky roars at the crowd.

The crowd responds with a mighty cheer.

Grand slam tennis at its finest.

OK, it's not Tuesday everywhere yet

Luckily it's only 11:00 pm in QLD - we would have time for another round of golf if it wasn't so dark...

- Mike

Mike if you are playing a round of golf in an hour, I want your advice on putting.

Because you must hole everything to get done in that time.

Struff holds serve, as Hijikata must now serve to save the match

There were some great winners in that game from both players.

This might be the match of the opening round.

Live score: Struff breaks Rinky to level the fifth set at 4-4

Oh that was classy from the German.

He kept making Rnky hit shots and eventually got his reward.

He gets the break and the fifth set is on serve at 4-4.

We have a midnight finish. Happy Tuesday everyone

Go, Rinky go!

It is now Tuesday in Melbourne.

We don't mind these late finishes though, do we?

The crowd are right behind Rinky

Live score: Rinky misses big chance for second break

Jan-Lennard Struff was under serious pressure on serve.

He faced another break point, but credit to the German he served himself out of trouble.

Hijikata leads 3-2 and has the serve.

Live score: Rinky gets the break in the fifth set

Go, Rinky go!

He has won the opening two games without conceding a point.

He leads 2-0 in the final set.

Live score: Rinky Hijikata forces a fifth set

Outstanding tie-break from the young Australian.

He attacked from the start and took the tie-break 7-2.

Three aces hit in that tie-break.

The crowd is going crazy.

Live score: Rinky Hijikata misses three set points, fighting for survival in tie-break

Australian Rinky Hijikata is in a tie-break in the fourth set, down 2-1 in the match.

Caroline Garcia defeats two-time champion Naomi Osaka in straight sets

Live score: Garcia and Osaka headed for second set tie-break

Felix Auger-Aliassime leads Dominic Thiem 2-0

A good contest on Margaret Court Arena with Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime winning the opening two sets over Dominic Thiem.

Thiem, the 2020 US Open champion, is trying to find that form but is just being beaten to the punch against Auger-Aliassime.

Live score: Rinky down 2-1 against German 24th seed