Naomi Osaka was meant to play in Stuttgart in April (19th) to kick start her European clay-court season. However, fans were stunned to learn that eventually, Naomi decided to play her first tournament on the red clay only in Madrid in the local WTA1000 that will start on the 26 of April.
Only 3 tournaments in 4 months
This scheduling means that Naomi has planned to play only 3 tournaments in 4 months!
Osaka played 2 tournaments in Melbourne in February (The Gippsland Trophy, where she pulled out before the semifinal and the Australian Open) and she will play this Miami Open.
Besides Stuttgart, Naomi is not on the entry lists of the 2 tournaments that will be staged in Charleston. Instead, she will play in Madrid and Rome before the French Open.
Osaka played only 4 tournaments in 2020 also and especially because of the pandemic. However, she decided to skip the entire clay-court season that followed the US Open, citing a hamstring issue.
About being homesick
The world no.2 has recently revealed that it is very easy for her to become homesick.
“Well for me, I’m not really sure what a normal schedule is but I’ve never thought of myself as the player that would play week-in and week-out,” Naomi Osaka confessed. “I personally get homesick quite often and it makes me kinda sad sometimes. I would like to travel somewhere and focus on that tournament.”
Naomi Osaka in 2021
At the moment ranked no.2, Osaka played her last match on the 20th of February when she beat Jennifer Brady 6-4 6-3 in the final of the Australian Open to win her 7th career title.
At present, during this year Osaka has a composed 10-0 record. Naomi conquered 1 title at the Australian Open.
