Osaka Itching for Tennis Return Ahead of Australian Open Defence

Watch out, ladies of the WTA Tour – four-time major champion Naomi Osaka has got the ‘itch’ again.

The Japanese star revealed she was taking an extended break from the sport after the US Open, and after a few weeks off Osaka is starting to feel the buzz of an on-court return.

“I know I'm going to play again, probably soon because I kind of have that itch again,” the 23-year-old confirmed, putting the rest of the women’s locker room on notice.

Another interesting aspect of that interview with ESPN is that ‘it wouldn’t really matter’ to Osaka if she won or lost, in her own words. Now, for a sportsperson that might seem like a contradictory statement, but if she truly believes it to be true then all of the pressure is off – that can free up the arms and the mind to try and hit as many winners as possible, which is key to the four-time Slam champion’s game.

Osaka has spoken of her issues with her mental health in the wake of becoming one of tennis’ brightest stars, but one thing that absolutely cannot be doubted is her toughness out on the court – winning four of her last eleven majors played is an astonishing strike rate, and testament to the belief she has in her own ability.

All of which means that, even after a period away from the game, Osaka remains the most likely star to dominate women’s tennis – and that’s why she is so dangerous on the biggest stage.

The faster hard court surfaces have been the primary domain of Osaka in recent years, with two Australian Open wins matched by her pair of victories at Flushing Meadows.

Melbourne Park is set up perfectly for the 23-year-old. She loves to feel the ball coming onto her racket at pace, and the hot temperatures of an Australian summer hold no fears for her.

Ashleigh Barty will head into the tournament as favourite in the best Australian Open 2022 betting odds, which is partly due to her status as the women’s number one player in the world (and Wimbledon champion) and partly down to the fact that she will be on home soil.

But is any player more dangerous on hard courts right now than Osaka? It’s almost impossible to argue against the fact given her Grand Slam record, and so Barty may carry the favourite’s tag but Osaka will be the most dangerous of opponents flying under the radar – how, you suspect, she will like it.

Inactivity means that the Japanese ace is just starting to slip down the WTA rankings, and that means she will be afforded fewer protections in the draw than those seeded higher. But that does not mean Osaka should be counted out, particularly as she has a happy win/loss record against most of the leading names in the sport.

It takes no lack of skill to win a tennis Grand Slam, but also those intangible qualities – mental resilience, and the ability to perform at your best under the most intense pressure. Osaka has those traits in abundance, and she’s ‘itching’ to remind the world of that once again.