(Reuters) – Naomi Osaka was actually dissatisfied on Saturday after falling in straight units to Iga Swiatek in the Miami Open ultimate, but the four-time Grand Slam champion mentioned she could go away Florida with one thing extra useful than the winner’s trophy.
Osaka solely dropped one set en path to the ultimate, the place her spectacular run got here to an abrupt finish as she fell 6-4 6-0, but the 24-year-old Japanese participant mentioned she realized a useful lesson whereas falling short.
“I’ve realized that like, I do not know, I’m not as dissatisfied as I usually can be, like I believe usually I might be crying in the locker room or one thing, but now I’m form of like chill,” mentioned Osaka.
“I really feel like I do know what I need to do higher, and I simply need to return and begin coaching once more to love hopefully win a match subsequent time.”
Those have been encouraging phrases to listen to from Osaka, who took a break from the game final yr to prioritise her psychological well being and arrived in Florida after an early exit at Indian Wells the place she was lowered to tears after being heckled throughout a match.
Osaka, whose final match win got here on the 2021 Australian Open, mentioned her new angle doesn’t imply she isn’t hungry for extra titles and that she continues to be pushing herself to turn out to be a greater participant.
“It’s all about conserving a sure perspective. Playing Iga immediately, simply figuring out the form of roll that she’s on, I assume I’ve to consider it extra, like what particularly did I be taught immediately,” mentioned Osaka.
“It’s form of cool to be blown away by an individual, like an opponent, but on the identical time, I really feel like I’m sturdy sufficient that that should not occur.
“So I’m a bit like irritated a little bit bit, but I really feel like, you understand, that is like the training course of, and one thing good will occur ultimately if I preserve sticking with what I’m doing.”
Osaka mentioned she goes to take the upcoming claycourt season “actually critically” and plans to observe video of 13-time French Open males’s champion Rafael Nadal to review his motion on the floor.
For the primary time in her profession, Osaka additionally plans to spend per week coaching in Europe to organize for the Madrid Open, which final yr was gained by Aryna Sabalenka because the Belarusian discovered a approach to change her fortunes on clay.
“Like I’m clearly not a clay professional, but, you understand, I really feel like if I get my motion collectively, I must be fairly good,” mentioned Osaka.
“You know, Madrid, Sabalenka gained that final yr, so I believe that there’s alternatives for me to do properly, as properly. I simply need to get my mentality collectively to know that each match can be a struggle.”
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by David Gregorio)
