Naomi Osaka started off her 2024 Indian Wells campaign with a win, and she passed her level after the victory.
Osaka admitted ahead of the Indian Wells Open that it's going to be a really interesting event for her. For the first time, she'll have to juggle being a full-time mom and a tennis player, as she'll have her daughter with her.
That hasn't been the case so far on her comeback, but she's ready for the challenge. The first match at the WTA 1000 went pretty well for Osaka as she bested Sara Errani 6-3 6-1, which was a pretty solid win.
Speaking with the Tennis Channel after her match, Osaka honestly assessed her current level, admitting that she's been quite comfortable with the way she plays.
"I have been fortunate enough to play against really good players and I think I’ve played really good matches against them. A part of me is really hard on myself for not winning those matches but another part is telling myself to give some grace. It takes time, I can’t immediately beat the best players in the world."
If we look at her results, they've been quite fine for what they are. As she said, she didn't really play weak players on her comeback and did well against most of them. This was one of the lowest-ranked players she's played this year, and it was an emphatic win, so clearly, things are pretty good.
The basic premise remains the same for Osaka: She needs to play more matches, and the more she plays, the better she'll do. That's just the reality of it.
"I have to learn and I have to play a lot more matches. I think right now I’m in pretty good shape but where I want to be is much higher."
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