Naomi Osaka, despite facing three consecutive losses since her return from maternity leave, remains optimistic about her future prospects.
The four-time Grand Slam champion, who welcomed her daughter Shai in July, made a successful comeback at the Brisbane International last month, winning her first match after a 15-month hiatus before exiting in the second round against Karolina Pliskova.
Subsequent defeats at the Australian Open and Abu Dhabi against Caroline Garcia and Danielle Collins did not shake Osaka’s confidence. Reflecting on her recent performances, the 26-year-old from Japan expressed that experiencing setbacks has actually bolstered her self-belief.
While acknowledging the challenges of being hard on herself, Osaka emphasized that her perspective has shifted. She views upcoming tournaments as opportunities for growth and considers each match as valuable experience.
Facing Garcia in her opening match at the Doha Open, Osaka embraced the chance to learn from tough opponents. Despite the competitive nature of their matches, Osaka appreciates the opportunity to compete against someone like Garcia, even revealing a shared birthday connection.
Ultimately, Osaka remains focused on learning and improving, emphasizing the positive outlook she has adopted, despite recent setbacks.