Naomi Osaka is finally back to playing a slam after the huge controversy surrounding her following the French Open retirement. On that occasion, Naomi refused to attend any press conference citing mental health issues. However, things snowballed and the Japanese sensation decided to retire from the major also to skip Wimbledon.
Fortunately, after the Olympic Games, Naomi Osaka is back playing on the “regular” tour. Naomi is ready to defend her US Open title after a brief appearance at the WTA event in Cincinnati.
Naomi admitted that she did many things wrong during the French major in the press conference proceeding in American slam. Osaka commented:
“I feel like there’s a lot of things I did wrong in that moment. But I’m also the type of person that’s very in the moment, like whatever I feel I’ll say it or do it. I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing.
I think there’s a lot of things I learned to do better. Of course, I don’t feel the same situation will happen again. I’d say maybe think it through a bit more in the way that I didn’t know how big a deal it would become.”
Naomi Osaka will start her title defense against Marie Bouzkova. The head-to-head is 1-0 for Naomi.
Naomi Osaka in 2021
Now ranked no.3, the Japanese played her last match on the 19th of August when she capitulated to world no.44 Jil Belen Teichmann 3-6 6-3 6-3 in the 3rd round in Cincinnati (draw).
At present, during this year Naomi owns a 17-5 record. The Japanese clinched 1 title at the Australian Open.