“Good Energy to Have For Me”: Naomi Osaka Hopes to Win a Title on This Clay Season
Follow Us
Clay hasn’t been a happy hunting turf for her so far, but Japanese tennis superstar Naomi Osaka is determined to change her track record on the surface this year.
While the current World Number 2 reaffirmed her impeccable hard-court credentials with back-to-back Grand Slam titles on the surface at the 2020 US Open and this year’s Australian Open, she is still a work in progress on clay.
Naomi Osaka says she would love to lift a title on clay this year
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Osaka reached the third round at the Roland-Garros in 2019 and 2018, which, though disappointing by her standards, was an improvement from her shock opening-round exit at the hands of unheralded Belgian Alison Van Uytvanck in 2017.
The Japanese withdrew from the French Open last year, citing an injury.
Trending
Miami Open 2024: Alexander Zverev vs Fabian Marozsan; Preview, Head-to-Head, and Prediction
March 28, 2024 08:32 AM EDT
What Does Danielle Collins’ Boyfriend Do? Everything to Know about Their Lowkey Relationship
February 15, 2024 11:39 AM EST
Miami Open: Victoria Azarenka vs Elena Rybakina; Preview, Head-to-Head, Prediction
March 28, 2024 11:07 AM EDT
Miami Open: Danielle Collins vs Ekaterina Alexandrova; Preview, Head-to-Head, Prediction
March 28, 2024 09:03 AM EDT
‘We Know It’s Muchova’ – Rebel Wilson’s Situation-Ship Bombshell With Female Tennis Star Keeps Fans Guessing
March 28, 2024 08:44 AM EDT
Get instantly notified of the hottest Tennis stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.
Follow Us
During a press meet in Miami, where her unbeaten streak on hard courts came to an end following a shocking quarter-final defeat to Greek World Number 25 Maria Sakkari, Osaka was quizzed on her ambitions going into the clay-court swing this year.
She said that she does want to give a better account of herself on clay and is keen to bounce ideas off her coach Wim Fissette, adding that he is “excited” for her to be playing on “new” surfaces.
“I’d love to win a tournament on clay… I’m going to learn a lot from Wim. He’s very energetic and excited to move on to the new surfaces,” Osaka said.
Osaka says she feels bad for the support staff every time she loses
Osaka added that she has barely lost a game since ace Japanese trainer Yutaka Nakamura, who has previously worked with former Russian star Maria Sharapova, among others, joined her coaching contingent.
The 23-year-old Japanese said that she feels gutted for her support staff every time she loses and would love to bring smiles to her team as well as her fans with a good run of results on clay this year.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
“I haven’t lost since Yutaka came. It’s just a good energy to have for me,” Osaka said. “I feel really bad for my team whenever I lose, but they are all very, very supportive”.
The Japanese was in sight of regaining the World Number 1 ranking from Australian Ashleigh Barty with a championship win at Miami. However, her hopes crashed as she fell to a straight-set defeat to Sakkari.
Naomi Osaka Joins Elite Group of Serena Williams and Venus Williams in an Incredible Stat
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad