Naomi Osaka, the former world No. 1 and four-time Grand Slam champion, reflects on her recent return to professional tennis with optimism and gratitude. In a note addressed to fans and supporters on social media, Osaka expressed her excitement for the journey ahead.
“Honestly really devastated to have lost but extremely grateful and thankful for the support,” Osaka wrote in her note titled ‘Thoughts leaving Miami.’ “It was so fun to play in an atmosphere like this again. I’m excited to see how far I can go and where life takes me.”
Osaka, who has completed three months of her comeback to the sport, has had a mixed performance this year, with a 7-6 record across six tournaments. Notably, she reached the third round at both Indian Wells and Miami. Reflecting on her Miami victory over Elina Svitolina, Osaka labeled it as “definitely the best match I’ve played so far,” echoing her sentiments shared with reporters at Hard Rock Stadium.
“I definitely do think it was one of my best matches, if not the best match,” she stated in the press room. “But I also want myself to play better and better every match.”
Looking ahead, Osaka acknowledges the upcoming challenges of playing on natural surfaces, particularly clay and grass, where she has historically faced difficulties in showcasing her best tennis. She recently accepted a wild card to compete in the WTA 250 event in Rouen, France, beginning on April 15. This tournament marks her first clay-court action since Roland Garros in 2022.
In her note, Osaka expressed anticipation for the clay-court challenge: “It’s different but fun, let’s see what happens.”
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Despite starting the season unranked due to her maternity leave in 2023, Osaka is projected to return to the Top 200 in the latest weekly WTA rankings set to be released on Monday.
As Osaka continues her comeback journey, fans eagerly await her performances on the court, rooting for her success and resilience in the face of challenges.
Naomi Osaka in 2024
Currently ranked no.229, Osaka played her last match on the 24th of March when she was overcome by world no.27 Caroline Garcia 7-6(4) 7-5 in the 3rd round in Miami (draw).
Until now, during this year Osaka achieved an overall 7-6 match record.
