Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka says she is returning to her best form but would consider quitting the game if asked to by her three-year-old daughter.
Osaka acknowledged that her mindset has changed with age and parenthood, stating her daughter is her biggest priority. She tries to put as much energy as possible into tennis but admits her entire day does not consist of the sport. She feels proud of her current progress because she cannot dedicate all her time to tennis.
Osaka has risen to 19th in the world and is the seventh seed at this week's tournament, where she faces Italy's Jasmine Paolini. She beat top seed Aryna Sabalenka en route to the Wimbledon quarter-finals, was runner‑up at Bad Homburg, and reached the last 16 at the French Open and US Open. She also made the semi‑finals in Washington, the last eight in Toronto, and her Flushing Meadows run ended against eventual champion Elena Rybakina. Osaka said she does not feel far off, noting she is relearning instincts and has built a solid base.
She is on the opposite side of the draw in Tokyo from world number one Rybakina, who won her fourth title of the year at the Ningbo Open. Rybakina defeated Canada's Leylah Fernandez 6‑2 6‑2 in the final.
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing