Naomi Osaka admits figuring out she was about to face a top-10 participant for the primary time this season left her feeling “one thing drastically totally different was going to occur” however now stays optimistic that the match versus Zheng Qinwen will assist her going ahead.
On Monday, former world No. 1 Osaka met a top-10 participant for the primary time since launching her post-pregnancy comeback in the beginning of this season. Enjoying towards world No. 7 and 2024 Australian Open runner-up Zheng, Osaka made a really gradual begin earlier than the Chinese language went on to finish a routine 6-2 6-4 win within the Rome round-of-16.
Earlier than assembly Zheng, the final time Osaka confronted off towards a top-10 participant got here in 2022 August when she performed Coco Gauff in San Jose.
Simply two days earlier than assembly Zheng, Osaka ousted world No. 11 Daria Kasatkina 6-3 6-3. On paper, the distinction between the seventh and eleventh place is not one thing astonishingly large. However simply figuring out that it was her first assembly versus a top-10 participant in practically two years had a psychological influence on Osaka.
“Yeah, I feel it has been some time since I performed a top-10 participant. I do not know. I simply felt like one thing drastically totally different goes to occur. I wasn’t as skilled,” Osaka stated.
“I am fairly I assume glad that I used to be in a position to play this match as a result of I’ll study loads from it. I am going to study that the extent’s not that totally different. It is sort of simply extra key moments I’d say, staying mentally very resilient in myself and my talents.
“I feel it simply bought to some extent that I wasn’t actually too assured in myself. I feel you might sort of see that. Then I picked it again up, after all, yeah.”
Osaka on her French Open plan now
In Rome, Osaka performed 4 matches and was in a position to clinch three wins – two of these wins got here towards top-20 gamers, Kasatkina and Marta Kostyuk. Now main as much as the French Open, Osaka has performed three tournaments and has a 4-3 document on clay.
After beating Kasatkina and Kostyuk in straight units for her first two top-20 wins on clay, Osaka feels good about her degree however nonetheless plans to return to the follow court docket and do a superb coaching block earlier than the French Open.
“Yeah, I feel I am in all probability going to do a very stable coaching block once more. That is been understanding for me, so hopefully it really works out much more.
“After that I am going to go to Paris and see Shai, so I am actually glad about that.”
Since returning, Osaka has underlined many instances that her objective is to be profitable titles. Though Osaka did not win Rome, she nonetheless managed to beat a top-20 participant for the primary time on clay and he or she positively confirmed some promising indicators earlier than exiting the event.
When requested about her week and clinching two top-20 wins, Osaka was requested if she was accepting this as an incredible consequence.
“Yeah, that is a very good query for me as a result of I am nonetheless attempting to determine it out (smiling),” Osaka stated.
It is actually powerful. Additionally I really feel very grateful on the similar time. Slightly little bit of a mixture of feelings. I feel to be on this place that I’m proper now, and to have been in a position to beat Kasatkina in straight units is one thing that I am actually glad about. However presently I am speaking to you as a result of I misplaced a match.
“I do not know. I’ve to course of issues slightly bit in another way but additionally settle for the final time I performed quarters in Rome, I did not play seeded gamers in all probability. I do not bear in mind too properly. I do not suppose I did.”
Osaka proud of the progress she has been making because the begin of the clay season
After shedding to Marta Trevisan within the Rouen first spherical in her opening match on clay this season, Osaka went to the Madrid Open the place she defeated Greetje Minnen earlier than shedding to Liudmila Samsonova. In Rome, Osaka had her finest event of the clay season and positively discovered some kind and momentum going into the French Open.
In her presser after the Zheng loss, Osaka stated she was “very glad” with the progress constituted of Madrid to Rome and in addition offered an perception into how she feels about her photographs.
“But when I have been to remove one factor that I am assured in myself, hmm, I feel from all of the matches that I’ve performed right here I am attempting to investigate, I feel I’ve hit a pair actually good backhands after I’m within the backhand cross-court. I am very assured and glad about that,” Osaka defined.
“However I feel when I’ve to hit forehand, typically I second-guess myself. I did that right this moment loads. I feel simply figuring out that I’ve to hit by the ball is one thing that I am in all probability going to work on after I get to Mallorca.”
When Osaka returns to the French Open, she shall be taking part in at Roland Garros for the primary time since 2022.
