Naomi Osaka, the distinguished four-time Grand Slam champion, has recently confessed to feeling a sense of embarrassment following a practice session in Madrid where she was thoroughly defeated by her upcoming opponent, Daria Kasatkina. The esteemed Japanese tennis sensation has returned to the court after an almost 18-month hiatus and is currently demonstrating a commendable performance in Rome.
During her initial matches at the Italian Open, Osaka achieved her first victory against a top-50 opponent on clay since the 2019 French Open, followed by her inaugural career triumph over a top-20 player on clay. However, it is the impending match against Kasatkina that has resurfaced the recollection of the humbling ‘smacking’ incident.
In a forthright manner, Osaka commented on the practice session, stating, “I think I’ve said this before, but she smacked me in Madrid real bad. It was actually embarrassing. I felt like I had to apologise to her after that practice. But I’m going into this match knowing that, you know, she has way more experience than me on clay.”
Despite her previous triumphs on hard surfaces, Osaka has been ardently striving to enhance her performance on clay courts, notably in preparation for the French Open, where her most notable results have been third-round finishes. To refine her skills on clay courts, she has diligently studied the techniques of illustrious clay players such as Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz, and Andrey Rublev.
Osaka has conveyed her unwavering commitment to perfecting her clay court skills, stating, “Honestly, I did a really solid block of just focusing on what I want my clay court tennis to look like. I watched some videos. I watched Rafa [Nadal]. I watched [Carlos] Alcaraz. I watched [Andrey] Rublev, actually, which is very inspiring because he’s smacking the ball. I kind of thought to myself, like, I don’t want to have regrets when I leave the court.”
The upcoming match against Kasatkina presents Osaka with an opportunity not only to seek redemption for the previous practice session but also to showcase her progression and development on clay. As she continues to aspire for excellence on the court, Osaka’s candid confession sheds light on the diligence and resolve required to compete at the highest echelons of professional tennis.