Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka said this year¡¯s clay court swing feels different as she enters it with momentum and confidence following a run of victories.
Last week, Osaka beat Slovenian Kaja Juvan 6-1, 7-5 in the final of the L¡¯Open 35 de Saint-Malo, a WTA 125 tournament, to win her first clay court title at any level. It was also her first WTA crown since becoming a mother in July 2023.
¡°I wanted to rack up experience on clay,¡± Osaka told reporters after defeating wild card Sara Errani 6-2, 6-3 in the first round of the Italian Open on Wednesday. ¡°I didn¡¯t really have too much of an ego playing that tournament.
¡°I¡¯m okay playing on Court 16 if I have to anyways. The reason I came back wasn¡¯t to play on center courts all the time, it¡¯s because I really enjoy the game.¡±
Osaka said her decision to play in Saint-Malo was inspired by American great Andre Agassi, who rebuilt his career in the late 1990s by competing on the ATP Challenger Tour.
¡°I remember reading (Agassi¡¯s) book,¡± she said. ¡°There was a moment where ... he was saying he was flipping his own scoreboards. Someone came and yelled, ¡¯Image is everything!¡¯ I would say that section of the book crossed my mind more.¡±
The former world No. 1 has often struggled on clay, having never gone past the third round of the French Open, where she is set to play in the main draw this month.
¡°I¡¯m coming into it with a lot more wins,¡± she said. ¡°Obviously, I would say I¡¯m a lot more comfortable on clay now ... I feel like clay is very strength-reliant.¡±
Osaka was set to face No. 9 seed Paula Badosa in the Italian Open on Thursday, but after the Spaniard withdrew due to injury, Osaka beat Swiss lucky loser Viktorija Golubic 2-6, 7-5, 6-1 for her seventh straight win on clay.
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