Naomi Osaka feels the ‘itch’ to play once more

FILE PHOTO: Tennis – Yarra Valley Basic – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 5, 2021 Japan’s Naomi Osaka celebrates after successful her quarter closing match towards Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu REUTERS/Loren Elliott/File Picture

4-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka seems to be set to return to tennis shortly after getting “that itch” to play once more.

Osaka stated on the US Open earlier this month that she would take a break from the game to focus on her psychological well being following a third-round defeat by Leylah Fernandez.

The previous world primary, who pulled out of subsequent month’s BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, has struggled for kind since she withdrew from the French Open in Might following a row with match officers over required media appearances, which she stated had a detrimental impression on her.

However the 23-year-old Japanese participant stated on HBO’s ‘The Store’ that she nonetheless cherished the game and was already seeking to get again to the courtroom.

“I do know I’m going to play once more, in all probability quickly as a result of I sort of have that itch once more,” she stated.

“However it wouldn’t actually matter to me if I received or misplaced.

“I’d simply have the enjoyment of being again on the courtroom.”

Osaka, who has slipped to seventh in the world rankings, stated powerful matches had begun to take their toll on her and he or she wanted the break to refresh.

“I used to like the competitors and simply being aggressive. If I have been to play an extended match, the longer it was the extra enjoyable it was for me,” she stated.

“Then I simply began to really feel — not too long ago — the longer it was the extra wired I turned. However I simply wanted a break to go inside myself.”

Learn Subsequent

Do not miss out on the newest information and knowledge.

For suggestions, complaints, or inquiries, contact us.