It has been less than a month since Japan’s Naomi Osaka stunned the tour by winning her maiden Premier title in Indian Wells.
At the tournament she defeated a duo of top 10 players, including world No.1 Simona Halep. Then in the final she dismissed an erratic Daria Kasatkina in straight sets to secure her first major breakthrough on the women’s tour at the age of 21. She continued her form into Miami with a straight sets win over her idol Serena Williams before going out in the second round to Elina Svitolina.
“I feel like these past few weeks have flown by since Indian Wells,” The Post and Courier quoted Osaka as saying. “Everything has gone by so fast, and I feel like I’m just mentally a little bit tired. I think that’s something I need to learn how to fix.”
Tipped as a future star of the sport, the world No.21 is aware that she still has far to go. Her best run at a grand slam event occurred earlier this year when she reached the fourth round of the Australian Open. Prior to the start of the clay court series, she has won 14 out of 19 matches played so far this season.
“I don’t think that was the best I can play,” she admits. “I feel there’s a lot of things that I can improve on and every day I’m trying to get better at something.”
Finding the right balance
In the midst of a surge in form, Osaka finds herself in a dilemma. Playing more matches in a short period than before is starting to take a toll on her. Although she doesn’t want to stop her momentum. This week she is seeded tenth at the Charleston Open, her first clay event of 2018. On Wednesday Osaka edged out Germany’s Laura Siegemund 6-3, 7-6(8), to reach the third round for a second consecutive year.
“I’ve been playing these tournaments back-to-back, and for sure I’ve played more matches this year than last year at this point,” Osaka said. “I want to take a break, but I also want to keep playing these tournaments and doing well. So, just balancing that has been the hardest for me.”
Before considering when to take a break to recover, Osaka’s immediate focus in on her upcoming clash against Julia Goerges. The fifth seed has also won a WTA title this season at the ASB Classic earlier in the year. Although her last trophy won on the clay occurred back in 2011.
“I’ve practiced with her in Wimbledon last year, and she’s really good.” Osaka said about the German. “She has a really good serve, and if she steps in, it’s basically like the point’s over. So I’m just really thinking of it as a challenge, and I’m just going to try to do my best and just have a really positive mindset.”
Despite her credentials, Osaka is yet to reach the quarter-finals of a WTA event on the clay.
