Osaka: "I still believe I am one of the best players in the world"

A long time has passed since the circuit last witnessed the best version of Naomi Osaka. Too long. That's why the most optimistic fans dream of having her back during the next two months.

Of course, we are in the part of the calendar where Naomi Osaka becomes more dangerous. The North American summer swing has always brought her great joy, titles, and rankings boosts. Currently inside the top 15, the Japanese player only needs to make that final leap, something she may have started yesterday with her first victory at the WTA 1000 in Toronto, against Panna Udvardy. These were her words after advancing to the third round.

Good feelings in the debut

"The conditions are different, but I feel much better here than in Washington. I think this court suits my game much better. I’m happy to have achieved my first victory and I hope many more come."

Creativity as part of her identity

"It’s a very important relationship. I usually come up with some completely crazy idea at two in the morning. That’s how the cookout started, for example. The night before, I asked if they thought the tournament would accept something like that, and they were able to organize it very quickly. I love that we can constantly exchange ideas. I throw out everything that comes to my mind, and they tell me what's realistic and what can work. They are very important people to me."

Naomi Osaka's goal: to tell stories with every appearance

"It really all started with the pink look at Roland Garros when I played against Paula Badosa. That’s when I thought it would be fun to do this and give moments to people. The tennis I admired had unforgettable moments with Sharapova, Serena, or Venus, and I wanted to create something similar. Then we went even further with the Ambush outfit, which is one of my favorites because I had never seen something so extreme. I love to tell stories; each look has a specific story in my head, and that’s why we create things this way."

Osaka shows her confidence intact before the US Open

"The semifinals at the US Open were a great boost for my confidence. In fact, after losing in the second round in Washington last year, I gathered my whole team and told them that I still believed I was one of the best players in the world. Then we made it to the final in Montreal and had a great US Open. I think that confidence was one of the reasons I played so well; plus, it’s my favorite tournament, and that always makes me feel something special."

Image

Praise for Alexandra Eala

"I think what she is achieving is fantastic. When I finished my match, I saw a completely full practice court and thought, ‘Who is playing now?’ Then I saw all the Philippine flags and understood what was happening. Her fans are very nice; some even cheered for me during my match. It’s wonderful that she is creating a new community. Also, those fans will surely continue watching tennis and find other players to support. It's something very good for our sport and also for the tournament because it sells a lot of tickets."

A nod to the upcoming US Open

"The story we are going to tell with the look for the next US Open is probably one of my favorites so far. Everyone knows that Nike is doing a basketball-themed design, so that’s the biggest hint I can give."

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Osaka: "Sigo creyendo que soy una de las mejores jugadoras del mundo"