Naomi Osaka confessed that she admired Novak Djokovic’s strategy for returning shots after breaking her three-match losing streak in Doha.
On Monday, the four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka began her Doha campaign with a significant victory, defeating former world No. 4 Caroline Garcia 7-5 6-4. Prior to the match against Garcia, Osaka had lost three consecutive matches, including one against Garcia at the Australian Open.
During their meeting at the Australian Open, Osaka failed to create a single break point and suffered a 4-6 6-7 (2) defeat. This time, Osaka approached her return game with more aggression, taking inspiration from Djokovic’s style. She explained, “I changed my return technique. Instead of taking one step and then jumping in, I now jump in with both feet, because Djokovic does that, so why not learn from the best returner in the world?”
Osaka acknowledged that she had spoken with her coach, Wim, about improving her return game. She expressed frustration with her serve, which she believed was one of the best in the world, and wanted to work on areas that needed improvement. She said, “We discussed it extensively during the offseason, and after leaving Melbourne, I knew I needed to make improvements.”
Following her loss to Garcia in the first round of the Australian Open, Osaka openly expressed her frustration and disappointment. Last week, she admitted that her confidence took a hit after losing to Danielle Collins in the first round of the Abu Dhabi tournament, marking her third consecutive loss.
After her defeat to Collins, Osaka was not in the best mental state, and facing Garcia in the first round of Doha was far from ideal. However, Osaka delivered an impressive performance, defeating Garcia and ending her losing streak.
Osaka initially struggled in the match against Garcia, trailing 3-5 after the first eight games. However, she rallied to win the next four games and secure the first set. In the second set, Osaka broke Garcia’s serve in the 10th game to claim victory.
In her post-match press conference, Osaka expressed pride in her resilience and determination. She said, “I’m proud that I didn’t give up on any point and that I didn’t let multiple match points slip away.”
After losing to Tamara Korpatsch in the first round of Brisbane, Osaka held a set advantage against Karolina Pliskova before ultimately losing in three sets. She then suffered defeats against Garcia and Collins. Ending her three-match losing streak in Doha was a significant step forward for Osaka, but she emphasized that she wants to continue winning.
Osaka acknowledged that this year has had its ups and downs, but she expressed gratitude for her team’s support. She emphasized that she sees this victory as a collective effort and not the pinnacle of her year. Osaka is determined to maintain her momentum and achieve more success.
In the second round of Doha, Osaka will face Petra Martic, a former world No. 14 who won her opening match against Arantxa Rus in Qatar.
When Osaka and Martic meet in Doha, it will be their second encounter and the first time they have faced each other in a decade. In 2014, when Osaka was a teenager starting her professional career, she defeated Martic in the San Jose qualifying rounds.
Following her impressive win over Garcia, Osaka’s confidence has undoubtedly improved. She will approach the match against Martic with optimism and motivation to secure consecutive victories for the first time since her return to tennis after pregnancy.
Since the beginning of the 2024 season, Osaka has repeatedly expressed her desire to achieve great results in major tournaments. As Doha is a WTA 1000 event, a deep run in Qatar would hold great significance for Osaka and her aspirations to regain her previous form.
According to the Source tennisworldusa.org