"By early March, she'll be back in the mix" says Martina Navratilova predicting Naomi Osaka resurgence at Indian Wells
WTASunday, 19 November 2023 at 22:00
Martina
Navratilova predicted a strong comeback for Naomi Osaka to the WTA Tour
starting from the BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells.
The former
world No. 1 has been away from the courts for 15 months following her pregnancy
and the subsequent birth of her first daughter, Shai. Naomi Osaka has been one
of the most prominent players in the last five years, winning 4 Grand Slams,
the same number as Iga Swiatek and second only to Venus Williams (7) among
active players.
In the
months leading up to her break, Osaka struggled with consistency and often
cited mental health issues as a factor when her performance dipped, failing to
achieve significant results since her 2021 Australian Open title. The 18-times
Grand Slam champion Martina Navratilova recently shared her predictions for the
2024 season when the Japanese player will make a return to the courts after a
lengthy hiatus:
“I’m really
looking forward to seeing how this all unfolds. After the layoff, it’s going to
take her time to get her match legs underneath her, the confidence flowing
again. I just hope that she takes it slower, rather than too fast,” Navratilova
said
“I’m
thinking by Indian Wells, early March, she’ll be back in the mix, back to being
her amazing self. She won the title there in 2018. It would be great for the
sport to see her back at the top.”
Naomi Osaka
will make her return without a WTA ranking and will receive a wild card for the
Brisbane International Open. Moreover, the 26-year-old athlete should have no
trouble securing wild cards for major tournaments as she works on rebuilding
her ranking.
As Osaka
has previously stated, she is returning with the motivation to climb the WTA
rankings and contend for significant titles. With seven titles in her career,
including two US Open victories (2018, 2020), two Australian Open triumphs
(2019, 2021), along with WTA 1000 wins at Indian Wells and the China Open, and
the WTA 500 Torai Pan Pacific Open, Osaka is poised for a competitive comeback.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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