The four-time Major champion is currently competing at the Qatar Open where she aims to secure some victories after a disappointing January.
Naomi Osaka (image via IMAGO)
The former top-ranked player is back in the winning column as she advances to the third round of the ongoing WTA-1000 event in Qatar. The renowned Japanese athlete triumphed over her opponent in the second round, emerging victorious with a score of 6-3, 7-6(9) to achieve her second consecutive straight-set win.
Currently ranked 747th, she sought redemption in the first round by defeating her adversary with a score of 7-5, 6-4. She had previously suffered three consecutive losses but has now secured her third win of the season in Doha, Qatar.
Osaka’s return to the court has been challenging. After taking a maternity break and welcoming her daughter last year with her partner, the four-time Grand Slam singles champion did not participate in any matches during the 2023 season.
Can’t wait to get back on the court but here’s a little life update for 2023. pic.twitter.com/GYXRnutU3I
However, she quickly resumed practicing after giving birth, sharing a video of herself engaging in drills just two weeks after announcing her daughter’s arrival. Following her victory over Martic, she discussed her journey in making a comeback.
Well that was a cool little intermission, now back to your regularly scheduled program 🎾✌🏾💕 pic.twitter.com/M6jZXqbRMm
Osaka publicly announced her pregnancy in January 2023 and made it clear that she would be skipping the entire season. Throughout her pregnancy and afterwards, she provided updates on her journey, including her time with her daughter, while managing her training routine.
Expanding on her previous statements, she also spoke about the physical challenges she faced during pregnancy. Dealing with changes in body size and limited mobility at times, she experienced frustration. However, the realization that she was doing it all for her daughter made a significant difference for the two-time champion.
Naomi Osaka talks about her daughter Shai ❤️(📸: @Nike) pic.twitter.com/8TRRaoyiZe
With her victory over Martic, Osaka will now face her upcoming opponent. The Ukrainian player defeated her Tunisian counterpart in straight sets during the second round. The head-to-head record between Osaka and her upcoming opponent currently stands at 2-1 in favor of the Japanese athlete, with their last meeting occurring in 2019.
Osaka’s win against Martic propelled her to a higher position in the rankings, as she has now entered the Top-400 of the live rankings. If she manages to defeat Tsurenko, she will further climb into the Top-300 and continue her pursuit of returning to the Top-10.
According to the Source firstsportz.com