"I felt like I was fighting for my life" - says Osaka after win over Stephens

The 2018 BNP Paribas Open champion emerged as a 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 winner in what may have been the windiest match of 2022 so far on Thursday.

In a match between Naomi Osaka and Sloane Stephens, Osaka definitely has the advantage when it comes to hitting harder and probably does when it comes to moving as well. In that sense, it wasn’t a surprise that the 2018 Indian Wells champ emerged as a 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 winner, in what may have been the windiest match of 2022 so far.

Osaka was open abou the struggle after the match saying:

“I felt like I was fighting for my life. I was playing her, I was playing the wind, it was crazy. I haven’t played much in the wind of late. I was just trying to tell myself she was going through the same circumstances.”

Despite the initial struggles and loss of the first set, Osaka was able to win the next two sets quite comfortably to move on. She expressed satisfaction about playing tennis again as well as being back in Indian Wells.