WTA Tokyo: Naomi Osaka wants to turn things around after a weak season
Naomi Osaka looks back on a mixed 2022 season. At the home tournament in Tokyo, the Japanese now wants to turn things around.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit:
Sep 19, 2022, 10:57 am
Apart from reaching the final at the WTA 1000 event in Miami, where Osaka Iga Swiatek was clearly beaten in two sets, the 2022 season is not going as planned for the Japanese. In two of the three Grand Slam starts, Osaka had to give up in lap one, and in Wimbledon an Achilles tendon injury made it impossible to compete.
Nevertheless, the world rankings-48 showed up. not completely devastated by the mixed performances ahead of the WTA 500 event in Tokyo: "Life is made up of ups and downs and this year has had more downs than ups, but overall I'm pretty happy with where I am now," explained the Japanese, who opened against Daria Saville on Tuesday.
Osaka is looking forward to a home game in Tokyo
However, the fall in the world rankings was not always easy for the Japanese to handle, as she emphasized: "It was difficult at the beginning because I had the feeling that I should be somewhere where I am obviously not." For them it is much more important today to be at peace with themselves. "I know I'm here for a reason," Osaka said.
In general, the Japanese is very happy to play in front of her home crowd in Tokyo, especially since this was not possible at the Olympic Games last year due to COVID-19. But in order to find her way back to her old strength in a playful way, she had to "have more confidence in the forehand," as Osaka emphasized. And slowly but surely regaining self-confidence. Then there should be more ups than downs for the four-time Grand Slam winner.