USA Today via Reuters
Aug 30, 2021; Flushing, NY, USA; Naomi Osaka of Japan enters to play Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic on day one of the 2021 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Aug 30, 2021; Flushing, NY, USA; Naomi Osaka of Japan enters to play Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic on day one of the 2021 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Naomi Osaka has finally returned to competitive tennis. The 4-time Grand Slam champion just began her 2022 season with the Melbourne Summer Set in Australia.
The Japanese-American star had taken a hiatus from professional tennis citing mental health reasons in 2021. In fact, she had admitted that winning matches, and the sport itself, had stopped making her happy.
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Naomi Osaka looks ready for the Australian Open
The Melbourne Summer Set is a crucial warm-up tournament that precedes the Australian Open. Naomi Osaka, one of the big stars at the tournament won her opening round match against French star Alize Cornet.
USA Today via Reuters
Aug 30, 2021; Flushing, NY, USA. Naomi Osaka of Japan serves against Marie Bouzkova of Czech Republic in the first round on day one of the 2021 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Naomi Osaka put Cornet away in three sets during her first match of the year. Despite dropping the second set, the 24-year-old star recuperated in the third set to win the match 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
In the post-match interview, Osaka was asked how her preparation for the Australian Open 2022 had been, seeing as she had spent a substantial amount of time away from the sport. The World No. 13 thought about it and began by thanking her team first and foremost.
Clinical performance 🚀
The four-time Grand Slam champion @naomiosaka defeats Cornet 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 and moves into the second round. @TennisAustralia | #WTA pic.twitter.com/g1K3wxnN0g— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) January 4, 2022
“My first reaction was to say nothing but that‘s a severe discredit to my team,” Osaka stated. “They’re like my family. Of course, I took time off, but they told me to let them know when I was ready.”
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She shared how she informed her team about her intention to return to tennis, and they were immediately receptive. Osaka revealed that she had expressed how she wanted to play again, “if you guys don’t dislike me too much”, she’d said. “So they came over and that’s kind of how it went.”
Osaka is the top seed at the Summer Set
USA Today via Reuters
Mar 29, 2021; Miami, Florida, USA. Naomi Osaka of Japan hits a backhand against Elise Mertens of Belgium (not pictured) in the fourth round in the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports.
Naomi Osaka is the top-seeded player at the warmup tournament. Now, her second match would be against either Croatian player Petra Martic or Belgian player Maruna Zanevska.
Melbourne mood 💭@naomiosaka • #MelbourneTennis pic.twitter.com/RCQP8cEA5p
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 4, 2022
In her own match against Alize Cornet, Naomi Osaka put on a clinic of tennis. Of course, there were moments when the rust on the star was visible, with several unforced errors.
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