Naomi Osaka is finally about to be back to competitions after a rather complicated 2021. Last season, the Japanese player started pretty playing an entertaining exhibition with Serena Williams in Adelaide. Later, she won the Australian Open title for the second time. Unfortunately, things went south with Naomi refusing to play many tournaments struggling with mental health issues during the year.
Naomi Osaka is dominant like Serena Williams
When talking to the WTA, tennis legend Martina Navratilova recently compared Naomi Osaka to Serena Williams. Martina said that the Japanese player was dominating the top hardcourt tournaments like Serena Williams.
Martina also commented that Naomi, like Serena should also try to focus on minor events and not use them only as warm-up.
Navratilova commented:
“Naomi dominated the majors, particularly the hard courts, but never the little tournaments. Kind of like Serena. I think to leave your mark on the game, you need to dominate all the events, a la Barty, a la Djokovic.
They concentrate on majors, but you can’t just use the other tournaments as warmups.”
Naomi Osaka in 2021
Currently the world no.13, Naomi played her last match on the 3rd of September when she lost to world no.24 Leylah Annie Fernandez 5-7 7-6(2) 6-4 in the 3rd round in U.S. Open (draw).
Presently, during this year Osaka has achieved a 18-6 win-loss record. The Japanese has won 1 title at the Australian Open.
Serena Williams in 2021
Currently the world no.41, the American played her last match on the 29th of June when she had to retire when playing against world no.107 Aliaksandra Sasnovich in the 1st round and the scoreline was 3-3 .
At the moment, during this season Serena Williams has managed to achieve a compiled 12-5 match record. Serena Williams’s most significant performance of the present year was getting to the semifinal in Melbourne and at the Australian Open.
Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams played each other 4 times. The head to head is 3-1 for Osaka. Previously, the last time they competed against each other, Naomi Osaka won 6-3 6-4
in the semifinal in Melbourne (Australian Open) on the 18th of February 2021.You can see them in action in the following highlights.
Novak Djokovic in 2021
Currently the world no.1, Novak played his last match on the 3rd of December when he defeated world no.30 Marin Cilic 6-4 6-2 in the Rubber 2 of the Davis Cup (draw).
At the moment, during this season Djokovic has a 55-7 win-loss record. Djokovic conquered 5 titles in 2021 at the Australian Open, in Belgrade, at the French Open, in Wimbledon and in Paris. Novak was the finalist in Rome and at the U.S. Open.
Ashleigh Barty in 2021
Now the world no.1, the Australian played her last match on the 4th of September when she lost to world no.40 Shelby Rogers 6-2 1-6 7-6(5) in the 3rd round in U.S. Open (draw).
This season Barty has a 42-8 match record. Ashleigh clinched 5 titles in 2021 in Melbourne, in Miami, in Stuttgart, in Wimbledon and in Cincinnati. Barty was the finalist in Madrid.
Naomi Osaka, Serena Williams |
| Embed from Getty Images |