Osaka feels 'refreshed' on tennis return at Olympic Games: "I feel like the break I took was very much needed"
WTASunday, 25 July 2021 at 15:30
Naomi Osaka made her return to competitive action in the early hours of Sunday morning at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games seeing off Saisai Zheng without too much fuss.
It was the first time the Japanese star has been seen on a tennis court since withdrawing from the French Open following his press conference boycott which saw further sanctions threatened.
She did promise to speak to the media at the Olympic Games though and was pleased to have the break and felt 'refreshed' on her return.
"I feel definitely a little bit refreshed and happy again," said Osaka post match.
"Playing the Olympics has been a dream of mine since I was a kid, so I feel like the break I took was very [much] needed.
"I feel like, more than anything, I'm just focused on playing tennis."
"I felt really nervous being in Japan, and playing here for the first time in maybe two years, and for it to be my first Olympics," added Osaka.
"It was definitely really nerve-wracking. But I am glad I was able to win."
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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