On this day in 2019, Naomi “Pumped Up” Osaka appeared during her China Open QF match against Bianca Andreescu. They gave us an excellent match. Please give us some more 🙏🏼😭
"I definitely want to win more Grand Slams and play the Paris Olympics": Main goals set by Naomi Osaka as 2024 return draws closer
ATPSaturday, 09 December 2023 at 01:30
Naomi Osaka
discussed her goals for the 2024 season shortly after her return at the
Brisbane International, ending a 14-month hiatus from the tennis court. The
4-times Grand Slam champion aims to return to her peak form and has set her
sights on the Grand Slam tournaments and the Paris Olympics as her major
objectives.
The
Japanese tennis player, currently without a ranking, had been away from the
sport since September 2022 due to her pregnancy and the subsequent birth of her
first daughter, Shai, in July. The 26-year-old Osaka's initial goal is to enter
the Australian Open in top form and compete for the title, which she previously
won in 2019 and 2021.
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Osaka
emphasized that the Grand Slam events are her primary focus, having already
claimed the US Open title in 2018 and 2020. However, she acknowledged that she
hasn't replicated the same level of success on surfaces other than hardcourt,
as she has never advanced beyond the third round at the French Open and
Wimbledon in her career.
"I
definitely want to win more Grand Slams and I guess put in more time in the
French Open and Wimbledon, and play the Paris Olympics," Osaka said.
"I
want to be someone that understands the game a lot more. In the first chapter
of my tennis I kind of got away with just being myself and playing with my
instincts."
Osaka has
accumulated seven titles in her career and a total of 25 weeks at the top of
the rankings, a position she first attained at the beginning of 2019. This
reign was briefly interrupted by Ashleigh Barty between June and August. Osaka
then regained the top spot for her last four weeks as the world No. 1 before
ultimately relinquishing the position to the Australian:
"I've
never been a person that's really good at playing for myself, if that makes
sense," Osaka added.
"So I
kind of like the feeling of having the responsibility of having to take care of
Shai and wanting to show her around the world. I kind of feel more like I'm
playing for her," she concluded.
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