March 24th 2024.
Naomi Osaka has set her sights on reclaiming the title of No. 1 tennis player in the world, and she's determined to make it happen. Despite being a new mother, she's been making impressive strides in the Miami Open, recently defeating Elina Svitolina on March 23 to advance to the third round.
According to Tennis.com, Osaka's performance in the tournament so far has been hailed as her "best tennis of the year." It's worth noting that she entered the competition as a wild card, despite being a finalist in 2022. This win against Svitolina only solidifies her determination to continue improving in the days to come.
In a post-match press conference, the 26-year-old athlete shared her thoughts on the match, saying, "I definitely do think it was one of my best matches, if not the best match. But I also want myself to play better and better every match...For me going into the match, I knew that she's a great player, and I had no choice but to play really well if I wanted a chance to win."
The match between Osaka and Svitolina was delayed due to bad weather in Miami, forcing them to play on a smaller court the following day. However, this change in setting did not hinder Osaka's performance, as she embraced the more intimate atmosphere. "I honestly think the court was really cool, just like having everyone surrounding and everyone was so loud and vocal," she expressed. "It just felt like Miami. It was really cool to play on that court."
In a tiebreak, Osaka came out victorious with two match points against her Ukrainian opponent. Next up, she will face Caroline Garcia, a familiar opponent throughout her career. Osaka currently holds a lead of 2-1 against Garcia, and she hopes to maintain it in their upcoming match. "She's an amazing player. I know this. Every match we play is really difficult," Osaka acknowledged. "It's just going to be interesting playing on these courts because I really like these hard courts."
Osaka's match against Garcia is scheduled for March 24. In addition to her impressive return to the courts, Osaka has also been advocating for the Women's Tennis Association to introduce maternity leave. This issue is close to her heart, and she believes it's crucial for female athletes to have access to "life-changing" maternity pay while competing on the WTA tour.
RELATED CONTENT: Naomi Osaka Advocates For ‘Life-Changing’ Maternity Pay On WTA Tour.
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