Naomi Osaka is very motivated to return to where she was before her pregnancy and her mental health break, and she's closely observed some players to learn from them.
When Osaka started experiencing mental health problems, she was firmly one of the best players in the world. She wasn't far removed from winning Grand Slams, but things have changed significantly since then.
The most dominant force in tennis right now is Iga Swiatek, even though her Olympics run was nothing to write home about. The Polish player has been one of the most consistent performers in recent years, and that inspires Osaka.
The Japanese player nearly bested her at Roland Garros earlier this year, and it was a match that showed her just how high of a level she needs to have to come close to beating Swiatek.
It's a really high level, and it's the level Osaka aspires to reach, too, but it's not going to come on its own. She has been working very hard at it, and initially, it wasn't going so well.
At the start of her comeback, she was back home in Los Angeles, wondering whether she could ever move well again because she wasn't moving that well.
"Honestly, after pregnancy, I wasn't really sure how my movement would be. I remember being on the track at UCLA and almost crying in frustration because I felt like I couldn't run as fast as I wanted to, and it kind of felt like I was in a body suit that was just not performing the way I wanted. And, now to be here, I think is really incredible achievement."
As her progression this year proved, the Japanese player improved not only in her movement but also in her ball striking. She has worked hard on her tennis recently, and it's slowly coming together.
There is plenty more work to be done, and she's searching for inspiration from her peers. Osaka admitted to stalking Swiatek in Paris, just watching her practices and matches because she feels there is a lot to learn from observing some of the best in the world.
"I was stalking Iga. I was watching her practice at the Olympics, and for me, that's something I want to do more, watch the great players, because there's always something I can pick up on. I know she has one of the best footwork skills on the WTA. I'm just trying to copy a little bit."
Osaka hopes to take away from the Polish player—just the amazing footwork, which would suit her style of play pretty well.
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