Osaka’s return to the big stage
US Open champion Naomi Osaka is eager for another major triumph. In September her US Open breakthrough was overshadowed by a controversial final featuring a heated argument between Serena Williams and umpire Carlos Ramos.
Since then Osaka’s popularity among fans and sponsors has soared. Currently ranked fourth in the world, the Japanese player encountered a blip earlier this month at the Brisbane International. Admitting that she had the ‘worst attitude’ during her semi-final loss at the tournament.
“When I was in Brisbane, I just thought about winning just the tournament, not focusing on every match,” Osaka said.
“I’d never really started a year winning something and I thought that coming off of the off-season, I really wanted to do well in Brisbane. I went to the semis, and I didn’t think about the semis, I just thought about the finals so I think that was not good.”
Aiming to get back on track next week, Osaka will start against Poland’s Magda Linette. Pledging to focus on each individual match and not the trophy. It will be her fourth consecutive appearance at the tournament.
“I have to take it one step at a time, no one wants to lose in the first round of the slam, I think that would be my immediate goal,” she outlined.
“And then from there I’ve been in the third round one hundred million times already, so that would be my next goal, and then hopefully semis after that, and then I can focus on finals. But there are so many good players in this draw, and I know that everyone wants to win. So, my first immediate thought is not to win (the championship).”
A Japanese player – man or woman – is yet to reach the final of the Australian Open.
