Naomi Osaka and Novak Djokovic were both considered the top favorites to win the Australian Open after they conquered the prestigious title in 2021.
However, Novak couldn’t compete this year after the Australian government deported him. Djokovic’s saga was long and exhausting, and many players were not happy about how this was affecting them.
During a recent press conference, Naomi Osaka was extremely straightforward to say that she wasn’t affected at all by Djokovic’s ordeal.
Naomi commented:
“To be completely honest the Djokovic situation didn’t affect me, maybe it did more with men’s players. My goal is to focus on myself more, I’m a tennis player and I focus on my matches.”
Osaka at the Australian Open, ranking, and results in 2022
Now the world no.14, Naomi achieved a 4-0 record in 2022. The Japanese is currently competing at the Australian Open where she managed to beat Maria Camila Osorio Serrano 6-3 6-3.
Naomi Osaka will come up against the world no.54 Madison Brengle in the 2nd round. Their actual head to head record is 1-0 for Brengle.
Osaka won 7 titles in her career: all of them conquered on hard courts. (See the list of her titles)
Novak Djokovic in 2022
Ranked no.1, the Serbian played his last match on the 3rd of December 2021 when he overcame world no.27 Marin Cilic 6-4 6-2 in the Rubber 2 of the Davis Cup (draw).
Currently, during this season the Serbian achieved a compiled 0-0 win-loss record.