Naomi Osaka has had more downs than ups this year. That said the former number 1 in the world in the run-up to the WTA tournament in Tokyo, where she defends her title.
“This was not the best year for me, but I have learned a lot about myself,” said the 24-year-old Japanese tennis player, who has dropped to 48th place in the world rankings.
Osaka underperformed in the grand slam tournaments this year. In the Australian Open she made it to the third round, but at Roland Garros and the US Open she was eliminated in the first round. She did not play at Wimbledon due to an Achilles tendon injury.
,,Life has ups and downs and this year was more down than up, but overall I’m happy with where I am now. Although my fall from the top of tennis was hard to bear at first, because my gut feeling told me I was somewhere I didn’t belong. But I am now at peace with where I am.”
Osaka has won four grand slams in her career: twice the US Open and twice the Australian Open. She has not won a tournament since her final victory in the Melbourne grand slam in 2021. In her last three tournaments, she was even eliminated in the first round. In Tokyo she still starts as one of the favorites for the overall victory. Osaka was the last winner of the Pan Pacific Open in 2019. The tournament was canceled for the previous two years due to the outbreak of the corona virus.
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