Naomi Osaka recently posted her first win on clay in two years, expressing that she is starting to “embrace” the surface more and draw inspiration from players who excel on it. Despite her past struggles on clay, including failing to advance past the third round of the French Open and not reaching a WTA final on the surface, Osaka is determined to improve. She defeated Minnen in the first round and will face No. 15 seed Liudmila Samsonova next. Osaka acknowledged that clay is still a “work in progress” for her but stated that she is feeling more comfortable with her movement on the surface.
After her win over Minnen, Osaka highlighted the importance of executing her game plan and staying positive during matches. She highlighted aspects of her game, such as sliding to her forehand and handling drop shots well, that showed improvement on clay. While Osaka is open to adapting her game to the surface, she also wants to stick to the fundamentals that have brought her success. By watching more matches on clay and doing her homework, she is working towards becoming more competitive on the surface.
Osaka’s best result this season was reaching the quarter-finals of the Qatar Open. She also made it to the last 32 of Indian Wells and the Miami Open before losing her clay opener at the Rouen WTA 250 event. Despite her mixed results on clay so far, Osaka expressed a desire to win a tournament on the surface. She acknowledged the irony and humor in potentially winning her first tournament of her comeback on clay, a surface that has historically been a challenge for her.
Moving forward, Osaka is focused on continuing to improve her game on clay and adapt to the unique demands of the surface. She is determined to learn from the best players on clay and implement their strategies into her own game. By staying positive, executing her game plan, and putting in the necessary work off the court, Osaka is working towards achieving success on clay. Her recent win on clay is a testament to her dedication and willingness to embrace new challenges in her tennis career.
