As Naomi Osaka breaks new ground at Wimbledon, she explains that her perspective of the sport changed earlier this year following an encounter at the Italian Open.
The former world No.1 and quadruple Grand Slam champion has reached her first quarter-final at Wimbledon after stunning Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets. It is the first time in Osaka’s career that she has beaten a top-10 player on grass. She is the third Japanese woman to reach the last eight of the tournament and the first to do so since 2004.
Reflecting on her latest victory, Osaka went into detail about how she has shifted her view to tennis not being the main priority in her life. Something she says was triggered by Iga Swiatek, who inflicted a heavy 6-2, 6-1 win over her in Rome earlier this year.
“I lost to Iga really badly. I felt like I just shut everyone out,” Osaka recounted during her press conference on Sunday.
“I literally just got on a plane back home. It wasn’t the most professional thing to do. I didn’t talk to my team. I felt really ashamed about what I did. So then after that I just told myself I’m nearing 30, I really got to enjoy the time that I have.”
Osaka has a daughter, Shai, who celebrated her third birthday earlier this week. In recent years, she has also ventured into business projects, such as investing in a women’s football team and setting up an agency called Evolve, which she is no longer a part of.
“Tennis is very, very important to me, but I have a life outside of that,” she continued.
“I have to treasure tennis in the way that I can, which is not putting too much importance on it.”
This is not to say that Osaka is any less committed to life as a professional player. In fact, she has made some changes at Wimbledon to focus more.
In recent tournaments, the 28-year-old has walked onto the court wearing various outfits that have caught attention. Her latest is a kimono-inspired walk-on dress.
“There are definitely a couple of things I can add (to her outfits),” she said before adding, “ironically, I kind of want to focus on my tennis now, so I might dial back a little bit.”
Osaka is one of three Grand Slam winners still in the women’s draw. The others are Coco Gauff and Madison Keys. Inevitably, the limelight will be intensified on her, but she is taking it in her stride.
“I’m quite good at shutting out outside noise. Everyone around me knows how well I can play. For me, that’s the most important thing, is just me building confidence in myself.” She concluded.
