To say that 2021 was a year of ups and downs for Naomi Osaka would be an understatement. Not only did she win the Australian Open in 2021, but she also became only the third player to win her first four Grand Slam finals. In fact, this feat helped her join the elite company of Roger Federer and Monica Seles.

On the other hand, Osaka also struggled with her mental health this year. In fact, she was at the center of one of the biggest discussions in the sport regarding the importance of mental health. Even though many athletes supported her move to exit the tour for a while to recoup, the general consensus remained mixed.

Naomi Osaka can not wait for 2022

It was not just the French Open where Naomi Osaka pulled out citing mental health reasons. In fact, the 24-year-old also refrained from playing at the Wimbledon championship for the same reasons.

Furthermore, at the US Open, where she was the reigning champion, Osaka lost her composure in the third round. In fact, she received code violations for throwing the ball into the stands, and also for throwing her racket.

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The major cause for concern came when she revealed in the post-match conference that winning no longer made her happy. Thus, Osaka was thrown under the spotlight, with her stance on mental health considered polarizing.

Nevertheless, the Japanese star has struggled with media obligations, her own mental health, and a less-than-favorable record of tournaments this year.

Thus, it was all too understandable as Osaka tweeted how excited she was for this year to finally be over.

WATCH: Naomi Osaka, Nick Kyrgios, and Other Tennis Stars Sweating it Out Ahead of Australian Open 2022

Osaka has been ready for the new season for a while

Clearly, Naomi Osaka is looking to make up for a missed half-year as she heads into 2022. Not only will she be looking to defend her reign at the Australian Open in January, but she will also be back to her regular form.

The Japanese-American tennis star has been preparing for the new season ahead of time. Thus, it then becomes clear that is ready to face the grueling tour once again and is feeling up to the task physically as well as emotionally and mentally.

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