Indian Wells, California ¨C Naomi Osaka said she feels right at home at Indian Wells as she returns to the tournament where she earned her first WTA title.

After missing last year¡¯s event while being on a maternity break, the Japanese player is delighted to be back at Indian Wells with her baby daughter in tow.

¡°It¡¯s nice to get in the car and be able to drive here,¡± Osaka, who lives in Beverly Hills, told reporters.

¡°And I brought my daughter, so coming back home and seeing her is new but it¡¯s nice. It does feel a little bit like home.¡±

After her triumph at Indian Wells in 2018, Osaka won the U.S. Open later that year which set her on the path to becoming one of the highest-paid athletes in the world.

The four-time major winner gave birth to her daughter, Shai, in July and after falling in the opening rounds of this year¡¯s Australian Open and Abu Dhabi Open, she reached the quarterfinals in Doha.

The 26-year-old said she is a ¡°perfectionist¡± but added that she is trying not to be too hard on herself as she finds her feet after her maternity leave.

¡°I¡¯ve had dreams of what I want to achieve and obviously losing in the first round of the Australian Open wasn¡¯t in my dreams, but I have to be really realistic and kind to myself,¡± she said.

¡°When I was in Doha and I got to the quarters, I was really happy. I would have loved to go further but I¡¯m in the top 200 now and I¡¯m actually really excited about that.¡±

The former world No. 1 said she has no problem being unseeded at the WTA 1000 event, where seeded players enjoy a first-round bye.

¡°When I won Indian Wells (in 2018) I wasn¡¯t seeded,¡± she said.

¡°It¡¯s better for me to play the seven matches because I want to know what it¡¯s like to potentially win a fifth Grand Slam. This is really great practice for me and hopefully I¡¯ll get through my first match and my second match.¡±

Osaka plays Italian qualifier Sara Errani in the first round on Thursday.