Naomi Osaka continues to be feeling annoyed and “actually devasted” over exiting the Miami Open sooner than anticipated but additionally highlighted that there have been some constructive issues and that she is now making ready for the clay season and hoping for some success there.
In what was her seventh Miami look, 26-year-old Osaka made the third spherical earlier than Caroline Garcia despatched the Japanese packing house after giving her a 7-6 (4) 7-5 loss.
For Osaka, shedding to Garcia was fairly disappointing as a result of she entered the match filled with confidence and decided to make a extremely deep Miami consequence after beforehand beating Elisabetta Cocciaretto 6-3 6-4 and Elina Svitolina 6-2 7-6 (5) in her opening two matches. After falling brief to Garcia in a really tight match that was just about determined by a few factors, the Japanese former world No. 1 was brutally trustworthy about how heartbroken she felt over the loss.
“It’s extraordinarily irritating, and it’s most likely going to sit down with me for a really, very very long time,” Osaka stated after shedding within the Miami third spherical and in addition admitted in the identical press convention that “I am not considering positively about myself now.”
5 days after her Miami exit and taking a while to mirror and analyze her Miami run, Osaka admitted that she nonetheless feels devastated concerning the loss 5 days however refused to be absolutely damaging concerning the scenario.
“Truthfully actually devastated to have misplaced however extraordinarily grateful and grateful for the help, it was so enjoyable to play in an environment like this once more. I am excited to see how far I can go and the place life takes me,” Osaka stated in a message titled “ideas leaving Miami.”
“I believe my second match was undoubtedly the very best match l’ve performed to date and I hope I can play many extra matches like that sooner or later.
“Hitting on clay now and it is totally different however enjoyable, let’s have a look at what occurs.”
Osaka confirmed this week the place she plans to start out her clay season
On Thursday, it was introduced that Osaka accepted a primary draw wildcard right into a WTA 250 event in Rouen, which is beginning on April fifteenth. For the 26-year-old Japanese, will probably be her first look on the event.
Additionally, will probably be Osaka’s first look in a clay event for the reason that 2022 French Open, throughout which she was overwhelmed within the first spherical. Over the past couple of years, Osaka hasn’t actually performed a lot on clay as she has taken half in simply 5 clay tournaments since 2019.
However this yr that’s set to alter as Osaka undoubtedly plans to play extra on clay than in recent times. Earlier than beginning her post-pregnancy comeback, Osaka hinted that she would goal to play on clay and grass extra this season when talking about her want to maintain bettering and make extra massive outcomes.
After Rouen, Osaka may also seemingly compete at WTA 1000 tournaments in Madrid and Rome, earlier than concluding her clay season on the French Open.
However earlier than Osaka kicks off her clay season and Rouen debut, she is going to make a short cease in Kazakhstan as she is ready to characterize Japan of their Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers tie between April 12-13.
Osaka has main targets however what she considers ‘successful’ now?
Even throughout being pregnant, Osaka was already very speaking about how she would return motivated to win a number of extra Grand Slams and add extra enormous success to her resume. However 4 months into her comeback, Osaka is 7-6 and has had only one quarterfinal look in six tournaments performed.
Whereas Osaka’s post-pregnancy comeback continues to be in its early levels, it’s clear that the four-time Grand Slam champion is raring to win now and would not wish to win an excessive amount of earlier than massive outcomes begin occurring.
Earlier this month, Osaka famous in one among her interviews from Indian Wells that successful extra Grand Slams stays her final purpose but additionally revealed that for now she would additionally discover satisfaction in simply competing nicely, leaving all of it on the market and having nothing to remorse in that sense after matches.
“Truthfully, I am probably not chasing the No. 1 spot proper now. Like, that is such a… if I may get there in, like, three years or, I do not even know what is going on to occur in that point, however that was by no means actually the explanation I got here again,” Osaka stated.
“I needed to win extra slams. That is why I got here again. However I believe I decide success proper now simply by the trouble that I put in, and I really feel like at present I do not suppose I performed nicely in any respect, however I attempted each level… I can stroll off the courtroom understanding that, though I am unhappy concerning the loss, I do know that I attempted each potential strategy to get again within the match. I assume that is how I decide success proper now.”
For Osaka, making a deep Rouen run initially of the clay season may very well be enormous for her confidence and doubtlessly set her up properly for an amazing clay swing.