Naomi Osaka shares she reached out to Novak Djokovic for some grass ideas and the Serb had a terrific reply to one among her questions, telling her that she mustn’t really feel afraid of probably slipping and hurting herself as a result of that may stop her from doing effectively.
Even when Osaka was in her peak kind and a four-time Grand Slam champion shortly after turning 23, she wasn’t thought-about a robust grass-court participant. However after lacking the complete 2023 season as a consequence of being pregnant and returning to tennis at the beginning of this season, the now 26-year-old Japanese got here again decided to determine enjoying on grass.
And forward of this 12 months’s Wimbledon – which can mark her first look at The All England Membership since 2019 – former world No. 1 Osaka messaged Djokovic, who’s a seven-time champion at The Championships and definitely is aware of a factor or two about enjoying on grass.
“I attempted to slip on grass. I requested Novak how he did it. I’ve tried a number of instances nevertheless it has been scary. I feel I’ll have to attend for the grass to get brown a bit of. However he informed me regardless of if he falls he retains getting up and doing it. He mentioned I’ve to beat the concern of getting damage,” Osaka revealed.
On Monday, Osaka will begin her fourth Wimbledon primary draw marketing campaign by taking over world No. 53 Diane Parry. If Osaka will get a win, it is going to be a memorable second for as a result of her daughter Shai is about to have a good time her first birthday on Tuesday and the Japanese tennis star desires to be nonetheless within the Wimbledon draw when that particular days occurs.
“She’s one on Tuesday so it is going to be very thrilling day. It has been a terrific journey and I am fortunate and blessed to have glad woman with plenty of power. It is a dream to be right here together with her now,” Osaka mentioned.
Osaka feels she would have made a deep French Open run had she crushed Iga Swiatek
At this previous French Open, Osaka was the closest to beating Swiatek as the previous world No. 1 was 5-2 up over the present world No. 1 within the third set of their second-round match and in addition had 0/30 on the Pole’s serve. However then, Osaka missed out on two match factors as Swiatek went on to finish a 7-6 (1) 1-6 7-5 win and win the French Open after not dropping a set within the the rest of the event.
For months, Osaka was speaking about her want to return to beating the highest gamers and successful Grand Slams. And now, she feels she would have most likely had a deep run at Roland Garros had she managed to beat Swiatek.
“It is a bit of bizarre as I really feel I’ve been enjoying rather well this 12 months however simply not making lots of quarter-finals,” mentioned Osaka.
“I really feel that had I not performed Iga, I might have gone a good distance in Paris. I simply want some luck.”
Swiatek had some chosen phrases for Osaka after their match
As talked about above, solely Osaka was an actual menace to Swiatek at this previous French Open and nobody apart from the Japanese got here even near beating the Pole.
After surviving the Osaka problem, Swiatek was noticed crying within the locker room and later she had some massive phrases for the Japanese four-time Grand Slam champion.
“Naomi performed nice as we speak. I’ve lots of respect for her comeback. Additionally due to the issues she’s all the time struggled with. However there’s additionally one other factor, she’s a mom, and I suppose I’ve by no means discovered myself in such a scenario, however I suppose it is troublesome to mix these two issues and are available again after maternity go away. So yeah. I am glad that she’s again,” Swiatek mentioned of Osaka in Paris.
“Actually, I simply take into consideration the journey that she’s been on. as a result of her tennis deserves to be on the largest levels. She deserves to be there, as a result of she has nice tennis. It actually hasn’t been straightforward for her, but when she performs higher and higher it is going to imply that she has labored to enhance it is truthful whenever you work laborious and you recognize you will see it within the outcomes.”
Earlier than coming to Wimbledon, Osaka reached the ‘s-Hertogenbosch quarterfinal in her first grass event since 2019. However after a terrific begin to the grass season, Osaka received bounced by world No. 8 Zheng Qinwen within the Berlin first spherical.
Nevertheless, in her Wimbledon presser, Osaka additionally mentioned she was feeling constructive about her grass recreation regardless of dropping to Zheng within the Berlin first spherical in her final pre-Wimbledon event.