"I see her smiling more": Aryna Sabalenka has different more relaxed aura says Naomi Osaka on return to tour life
WTAWednesday, 07 February 2024 at 06:30
Former world number one Naomi Osaka has stated that the
biggest difference she noticed in the current world number two Belarus’ Aryna
Sabalenka is her positive energy in the Australian Open.
The 25-year-old successfully defended her crown in Melbourne
as she defeated China’s Qinwen Zheng in straight sets in the final of the
mega-event with a score of 6-3, 6-2.
Osaka, who recently returned to the court after a gap of
more than one year, was recently quoted in a report where she stated that the
biggest difference she noticed this year was the positive energy around Sabalenka.
"The biggest difference that I’ve seen since coming
back on tour, granted I have my headphones off now, it’s just she has a
different energy around her, I see her smiling more. So that’s really nice and
it’s really just cool to see,” she said.
"I've always felt like she was a player that people
didn’t really want to play. And that’s something that’s very powerful. I'm not
really surprised by any of this. I feel like there’s players that people talk
about and when you see them achieve their potential, it’s not surprising. It’s
just kind of more of a 'time can only tell' moment."
Osaka’s own return did not go as planned as she lost in the
first round of the Australian Open to France’s Caroline Garcia with a score of
6-4, 7-6.
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.
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