“Came out swinging the best that I have since I have been back” – Osaka sets up Svitolina clash
The former world No 1 wins her first round match in Miami in straight sets
Naomi Osaka at Indian Wells 2024
Four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka described her win over Elisabetta Cocciaretto in the first round of the Miami Open as her best performance since her return to the tour in January.
After giving birth to her first child in July last year, the former world No 1 made a comeback at the start of the season and has posted a 5-5 record so far. The Japanese player looked in good form on Wednesday as she got past Cocciaretto 6-3, 6-4 to make the second round in Miami and later said she was extremely pleased with the way she was hitting the ball.
“Honestly, this is probably the most free that I was able to hit my balls, like, the closest to the feeling I want to capture going forward. I would say this is probably my best match in terms of shot-making. I felt like the balls I wanted to hit were there. Yeah, I’m pretty happy with this one,” Osaka said.
“I thought she played really smart. I felt like for me it was almost, in a way, a relief that she played so smart, because I felt like the shots that I needed to play I knew that I needed to play them, so it gave me, like, an extra boost. I also felt like my footwork was much better today. In my match against (Elise) Mertens, I didn’t feel like I was stepping around to hit my forehand as well as I did today, and I think that’s one of the most important parts of why I won my match. I honestly came out probably playing or swinging the best that I have in, I guess, since I have been back.”
“I feel a great deal of respect, and I think it’s very mutual (smiling)” – Osaka on Svitolina
Osaka’s win sets up an clash against 15th seed Elina Svitolina, also a fellow mum on the WTA Tour who the Japanese player said inspired her with her run to the Wimbledon semi-finals last year.
“I feel a great deal of respect, and I think it’s very mutual (smiling). When I think of (Elina) Svitolina, I think of her as a fighter. I feel like she’s the type of person that would never give up on a single ball. Obviously that’s why she is where she is right now. I also feel like it’s really incredible for her to have had a kid and already doing so well and winning so many matches.”
Osaka and Svitolina are tied at 3-3 in their head-to-head but this will be their first meeting since the 2019 Australian Open.
” I remember watching her playing Wimbledon while I was pregnant, and I remember thinking that I want to be there too one day. She’s always just been a really great player, so it’s not surprising to me she’s back in the top 20. It’s more like that’s where she belongs.”
