Osaka: "I have cried much more now than winning Grand Slams"

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Naomi Osaka wins again at the US Open, where she has clinched the title twice. Moreover, she did it against Jelena Ostapenko, currently a top 10 player in the world. The Japanese player couldn't hold back the tears once the match was over and, at the press conference, she revealed what this achievement means to her. Thus, the former world number 1 poured her heart out discussing how challenging this year of returning to the courts has been and how she has had to deal with a loss of confidence.

- Do you feel more motivated when playing against the best?

“I'm not sure if it's motivation or if I feel like I have no other choice but to play well. Then I let go and free myself from expectations and the pressure I put on myself. Whatever happens, tennis will continue to be good tennis, whether I win or lose. That's my mindset when facing seeded players or strong opponents”.

- Have you ever been as emotional after a victory?

“Yes, and it was probably on this very court, so maybe this court does something to me. The first US Open I won was against Sabalenka in the round of sixteen. I remember crying loudly afterwards because I had that barrier of not getting past the fourth round. It's funny because I've cried much more now than when winning Grand Slams”.

- How would you compare this triumph to any match you've played since returning to the circuit?

“It's an interesting question because I feel like this court is my home, it gives me a lot of confidence. I step onto the court knowing that, probably, I have my highest number of victories here. I'm not sure, but having two titles here means a lot, and I think I have struggled with confidence throughout the year. So, it forces me now to look at myself in the mirror and say, ‘you've done pretty well here, there's no reason why you can't do well again’. That's what I've tried to channel today”.

- What made you cry so intensely

“It's a combination of many different things. I grew up here, so seeing the kids, reminiscing about my childhood, seeing those kids come and watch me play made me remember that I was also a child a long time ago. That touched me deeply. I also remembered going to watch Coco play her semis, I was in the audience and didn't know if I would ever play at that level again. So, playing against Ostapenko, who is a great player, and winning the match means a lot to me”.

- A matter of confidence

“I arrived at the Australian Open with a lot of confidence because it was on hard courts. It didn't turn out to be what I wanted, and obviously I don't know clay or grass as well, so that shook me a bit. I wish I had done better in Toronto and Cincinnati. Now that I'm here, nearing the end of the year, I told myself I would make one last push if I could at the US Open and in the Asian tour”.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Osaka: "He llorado mucho más ahora que ganando Grand Slams”