Osaka has never been shy about expressing her desire to return to the top of the sport she once dominated. The four-time Grand Slam champion, who beat Lina Glushko 6-4, 6-4 in her first match of the season in Auckland on Monday, said she was ready to start her second game on her return. season, she won't settle for anything but the best of herself.
“I don't think I'm the type of player who's going to stay,” Osaka, 27, told reporters before playing in the ASB Classic, according to the Associated Press. “I have a lot of respect for all the players on the tour, but as far as I'm concerned right now, At the stage of my life I'm at, if I don't get above a certain ranking, I don't think I'll be playing for a while.
“If I’m not at the level that I think I should be at and I’m not at the level that I think I can be, I’d rather spend time with my daughter.”
Osaka has moved up the rankings in 2024, from outside the top 800 to her current No. 57 ranking, and while she hasn't had the success she's accustomed to, she feels this season is a good step in the right direction.
The power from Osaka💪@naomiosaka | #ASBClassic25 pic.twitter.com/ql0RlUlQpw
— WTA (@WTA) December 30, 2024
“I think 2024 is humbling for me, but I also feel like I've grown a lot,” she said. “I'm working harder than I've ever worked before. So, I guess not getting the results I wanted was very painful, but I feel like I'm growing and learning and I'm really excited for this year.
Seventh-seeded Osaka will face Austria's Julia Grubb in the second round in Auckland. Naomi Osaka hit 7 aces, scoring 77% of her first serve points, and won in 85 minutes.
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