"She’s going through some doubtful times": Evert analyzes Osaka’s form before US Open

Chris Evert analyzed Naomi Osaka's chances at the US Open as she navigates "some doubtful times." The 4-time Grand Slam champion returns to play at Flushing Meadows for the first time since 2022, after missing the 2023 edition due to the birth of her first child.

There are doubts about what Osaka can achieve in New York. A champion in 2018 and 2020, she arrives this time as world No. 85, with an 18-15 record for the season, alternating between victories against strong opponents and disappointing losses.

Osaka had a notable performance at Roland Garros, where she had match point against the nearly unbeatable Iga Swiatek on clay, though she ultimately exited in the first round. The Japanese player has not had deep runs in recent months, but Flushing Meadows could be the perfect stage for her to bring out her best level.

18-time Grand Slam champion Chris Evert was cautious about Osaka's upcoming appearance: "She’s going through some doubtful times," Evert recently commented in the Los Angeles Times. "We’ll see if she can get that magic because it is the U.S. Open. She has won this title, so let’s see if she can get that magic going. I think her story, her journey, remains to be seen."

"I know she has the game, but it takes more than the game. It takes a lot of confidence and a lot of focus. We’ll see," the former world No. 1 added. "She’s in a different part of her life right now where it seems she’s so calm and she’s so relaxed and happy and peaceful."

"The mental problems haven’t really affected her. She has a child, which she is madly in love with. Sometimes when you are too happy, that can’t always be good either, I don’t know, for us to be intense and fierce," Chrissie Evert added. "Naomi has shown us so much compassion and kindness during her career that I think that’s going to translate into caring for another human being. I think she’s going to be an awesome mom.

"I think it’s going to be very freeing for her, in the sense that she can now focus on a human being that is more important than anything else in the world," added the 69-year-old American. "And she’s not just focusing on tennis, the pressures, the expectations, all the challenges that she faced before, the anxiety. I think having a child is the most freeing and the most loving act that can happen to you. It’s going to be very healthy and almost healing for her."

With the US Open main draw revealed, Osaka was drawn to face the 11th seed Jelena Ostapenko. Interestingly, they have only met once before, back in 2016, when both were just starting their professional careers, and Ostapenko won in the first round of the French Open.