Naomi Osaka may be currently ranked outside the world’s top 70 but her run at the Miami Open serves as a reminder that she is one of the top players in the sport.
In recent months the former world No.1 has dropped down the rankings after taking a break from the sport due to personal reasons. Last year during the French Open she opened up for the first time after suffering from social anxiety and depression since 2018. During the last six months of 2021 she only played three tournaments, including the Olympic Games which doesn’t offer ranking points.
Coming into this season Osaka has achieved modest results for her standards with a run to the semi-finals of a WTA event in Melbourne followed by reaching the third round of the Australian Open. Then in Indian Wells she crashed out in the second round during a match where was crying after being heckled by a member of the crowd who shouted ‘Naomi, you suck!.’
It wasn’t until the Miami Open where the 24-year-old finally found her footing. Unseeded in the draw she managed to score wins over Angelique Kerber and Alison Riske in straight sets earlier in the tournament. On Tuesday she secured her place in the semi-finals with a 6-2, 6-1, win over Danielle Collins who was visibly struggling with a neck injury throughout.
“I hope she is okay,” Osaka said after the match. “I have actually never seen her do that before so I think it might be pretty serious.
“I am glad I was able to get through easily or, not easily, but just quickly. I focused on hitting a lot of good returns.”
Gaining confidence on the Tour once again, Osaka concedes that her low ranking might have ironically aided her rise once again. Speaking to reporters during her press conference, the world No.77 says her position has meant she has had to play more which has helped her get her form back.
“I went to Indian Wells with the intention to do really well and then I didn’t. But Wim (Fissette) told me ‘Listen, you’re playing really well.’ But it’s hard to listen to someone tell you you’re playing well without having the results to back it up,” Osaka explained.
“I’m glad that in a way I don’t have a good ranking because I’m able to play the matches that I need to play. I feel like I’m the type of person that plays better with more matches, so having back-to-back matches benefits me a lot.’
“I wouldn’t say I’m surprised with the results (in Miami) but I feel like I’m becoming a better player, so I’m kind of intrigued on how I play different opponents.”
This year in the first time Osaka has reached the last four in Miami in what is her sixth main draw appearance in the WTA 1000 event. Awaiting her next is 22nd seed Belinda Bencic who defeated Daria Saville 6-1, 6-2, in her quarter-final match. She trails the Swiss player 1-3 in their head-to-head but the last time they locked horns on the Tour was at the 2019 US Open.
“She’s a really good tennis player. She won the gold in Tokyo, which I really wanted to win. I mean, she’s clearly ranked where she is for a reason,” Osaka said of Bencic.
Osaka is bidding to reach her first final since winning the 2021 Australian Open 13 months ago.
