Naomi Osaka says she wants to be in better shape than she currently is but admits it will take time for her to do so.
The four-time Grand Slam champion kicked off her Indian Wells campaign on Thursday with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Italy’s Sara Errani. Despite the straightforward scoreline, Osaka had to come back from a break down twice in the opening set before cruising through the second. She won 75% of her first service points but only 43% of her second.
This week’s tournament is only the fifth Osaka has played since returning to the Tour following the birth of her first child. Including her victory over Errani, she has won five out of eight matches played so far this season. Her losses were to Karolina Pliskova, Caroline Garcia and Danielle Collins. At the Qatar Open, she reached the semi-finals before pulling out of the tournament due to a back injury.
“I have been fortunate enough to play against really good players and I think I’ve played really good matches against them,” Osaka told The Tennis Channel after her first round win in Indian Wells.
“A part of me is really hard on myself for not winning those matches but another part is telling myself to give some grace. It takes time, I can’t immediately beat the best players in the world.”
The 26-year-old is hoping for a strong run this week at an event which she says feels like ‘home.’ Osaka currently lives in Beverly Hills, California, and can just drive to the event. She won the Indian Wells title back in 2018 which was her first trophy on any sort on the WTA Tour.
“I have to learn and I have to play a lot more matches,” she said of her current form. “I think right now I’m in pretty good shape but where I want to be is much higher.”
Osaka will next play Liudmila Samsonova in the second round. This year is her fifth appearence in the main draw at Indian Wells.
