Naomi Osaka is back to tennis and is a different player right now as she approaches tennis and her career differently.
She still has the same skill set she always had, but for the most part, her attitude has changed quite a bit. Part of it was just stepping away from the sport and being able to really reflect. Part of it is becoming a more mature person by becoming a mother as well.
Everything that she does now includes her child, whom she wants to inspire by being the best possible role model she can be. She spoke about some of those attitudes after her loss in Brisbane, which cut short her first run back at the 2024 Brisbane International.
I think I'm enjoying myself a lot more, and I also realize there's a lot of things that aren't in my control. Maybe the ball that was in, I could have hit that. Other than that, I feel more aware that I'm playing the best players in the world. Both of us have an opportunity to win.
It's a pretty good mindset to have upon returning to the sport because not all will go smoothly. She's aware of that, and she worked hard to give herself a chance, which is all you can hope for.
Seeing other players like Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams retire taught Osaka how to approach her career and enjoy every possible moment, because it may not last for too long.
I also just think I've trained so hard after giving birth that I need to enjoy these moments, and I also think in a way watching Sharapova, Serena retiring, I know that the tennis lifespan isn't that long,
She's just a more mature player with a pretty defined way she'd like to do things and now it's about putting it into practice. The first event back saw her win one match and lose the other.
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