"I wanted to win more Grand Slams, that's why I came back": Naomi Osaka chasing legacy over World No.1 return
WTA
Naomi Osaka stopped at solely two wins at Indian Wells after losing to Elise Mertens cast aside the former World No.1 as the multiple Grand Slam champion continued her comeback with more confidence boosting wins, but not a run to the Last 16.
Osaka spoke afterwards about what she wants during this comeback and it certainly isn't the World Number One spot which she said could take years but it is more of a legacy mission as she looks to accrue more Grand Slam titles and aim for more finishing touches to her dazzling career which she admitted was why she came back. This days after she joked that Iga Swiatek had been World No.1 for years, so certainly it isn't the top of her agenda at least right now as she moves towards Miami and the next step of her comeback.
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"You know, honestly, I'm not really chasing the No. 1 spot right now," she said in her post-match press conference. "Like, that's such a, if I could get there in three years or, I don't even know what's going to happen in that time, but that was never really the reason I came back. I wanted to win more Slams. That's why I came back."
"But I think I determine success right now just by the effort that I put in, and I feel like today I don't think I played well at all, but I tried every point. I think, before I was pregnant, there were a couple of matches that I didn't try as hard as I tried today, and I feel like I can walk off the court knowing that, although I'm sad about the loss, I know that I tried every possible way to get back in the match. I guess that's how I determine success right now."
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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