Naomi Osaka admits she felt extra pressure to win her latest match at Wimbledon due to her daughter’s biurthday.
The four-time Grand Slam champion moved into the third round with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Russian qualifier Anastasia Gasanova. Osaka did not face a break point throughout the match and hit 30 winners against 12 unforced errors in what was a solid performance. However, she still believes there is plenty of room for improvement in her game.
“I don’t rate my performance,” said Osaka. “I feel like I have to take a little bit of time before that. I think my current emotions are that I am happy to win.
“She (Gasanova) was playing amazingly, and I’m glad that I was able to win in straight sets.”
Osaka, who is a two-time champion at both the Australian Open and US Open, is yet to reach the second week at SW19. This year, she is making her sixth appearance at Wimbledon after missing three editions between 2021 and 2023 due to various reasons.
“I felt pretty tight, so I think I wasn’t covering the balls as well as I could have,” she continued in an assessment of her performance.
“She was dominating me in some rallies. I want to practice a little bit more tomorrow.”
The 28-year-old admits she felt tight during the clash with the added pressure of trying to win on the eve of her daughter, Shai, turning three. As to how Osaka plans to celebrate, it could include a walk around the local park because her daughter ‘loves making new friends.’
“I just wanted to be here for longer. I didn’t want to make her get on a plane on her birthday. I was really happy about today,” she said.
Osaka comes into Wimbledon having reached her first final at a WTA grass-court event in Bad Homburg, from which she then withdrew due to a right foot injury.
Also through to the third round is former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, who thrashed Antonia Ruzic 6-2, 6-0. The Latvian is in the same section as Osaka and they could clash in the fourth round.
