Osaka optimistic despite loss to Paolini in Miami
The Japanese played some of her best tennis of late as she pushed Paolini all the way
Julien Nouet/Tennis Majors
Naomi Osaka says she will take plenty of confidence into the clay-court season, believing she is on track to continue climbing the rankings on her return to the WTA Tour.
The Japanese played one of her best matches since returning to the Tour at the start of last year, pushing world No 7 Jasmine Paolini all the way before eventually going down in three sets in the third round of the Miami Open.
Victory for Osaka would have put her back inside the world’s top 50 but she said she felt her game and her fitness are in a good place.
“I definitely think i learned a lot in this tournament, especially coming off the pretty bad boss at Indian Wells,” she told reporters in Miami. “But overall I I kind of told myself, I like my life a lot, so there’s not really much to be negative on and other than that, I can only keep fighting and keep trying my best on the tennis court, but off of it, life is pretty fun.”
First time playing Paolini
Osaka said (recent) experience was perhaps the difference agaonst Paolini, who has endured a tough start to the year but who reached the final at Eoland-Garros and Wimbledon last summer.
“I don’t think I really can say that I’ve played a lot of matches against top players like this in a while,” she said, “..so, honestly, I feel pretty optimistic about it.
“Last year I definitely probably wouldn’t have fought like that even towards the end so I am excited that I got to play her, since I’ve never played her before. It’s nice to watch someone on TV and then I guess figure out their game. So, excited to play her again hopefully sometime.”
“I feel fast and healthy”
Osaka suffered an injury at the Australian Open, against Belinda Bencic in the third round, but said she feels much better as she enters the clay-court season, traditionally a difficult period for her.
“I think I’m pretty good,” she said. “I feel really fast and I feel healthy so I think, very positive.”
