Exclusive: Osaka To ‘Go Right Back Into Top 10’ According To Coach Macci

Monday, 14 August 2023 at 05:30

byErik Virostko

Naomi Osaka has been away from the tennis courts for quite some time, but once she returns, she’ll be a force to be reckoned with, according to coach Rick Macci.

Becoming a parent during a professional tennis career has always been more difficult for women than for men. Therefore, many players waited with pregnancy until their playing days were over, but in recent years, many also showed that it’s possible to have a baby and still return to the WTA Tour.

One of those players is certainly Elina Svitolina, who has been playing sensational tennis since coming back only recently. Moreover, Caroline Wozniacki joined her after she came out of retirement, and now, we’ll have another mother on the WTA Tour, as Naomi Osaka is expected to make her comeback in 2024.

Experienced coach Rick Macci talked to Tennis-Infinity.com about the Japanese player, and despite ‘everybody writing her off’ because of the hiatus, he reminds that Osaka has four Grand Slam titles, and all the necessary skills to come back.

“I know when you disappear from the pro tour and you go have a baby, everybody writes you off. But listen, Osaka has four Grand Slams in her back pocket, you know, and she has firepower. She has a great serve, she's solid off the ground, great athlete, good calming skills.”

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Moreover, Macci drew a parallel between Osaka and another former world no. 1, Jennifer Capriati, who returned to the WTA Tour after a brief hiatus, and not just that, she won three Grand Slam titles, and reached the top spot in the WTA Rankings.

“I bring this up all the time and it reminds me of one of my favorite students of all time. Jennifer Capriati. You know, she disappeared off the face of the earth, went off the tour, okay? Even saw it kind of in the movie King Richard. I wish they'd have presented it the way it really happened. 'cause she not only came back on the tour. Not to number 50 or 30 or 20 or 10. Number one, three grand Slams, Olympic gold, big contract from Fila. She came all the way back.”

According to the American coach, Osaka should be capable of doing the same thing. She’s expected to return to the 2024 Australian Open, and by the end of the year, Macci can already see the four-time major winner in the Top 10.

“So listen, you don't lose the talent and you don't lose the ability. You lose a little bit of the confidence and the fitness. So listen, it's not gonna happen this year, but I'm predicting by the end of 2024 I if her, if she's hungry, because I know she believes, Osaka will go right back in the top 10 because she has enough firepower to play through you.”