Naomi Osaka expressed her joy at returning to Indian Wells, where she clinched her first WTA title. After taking a break last year due to maternity leave, Osaka is back at the tournament with her baby daughter. The Japanese native, who resides in Beverly Hills, California, mentioned that being able to drive to Indian Wells and having her daughter with her made her feel like she was coming back home.
Following her victory at Indian Wells in 2018, Osaka went on to win the US Open the same year, propelling her to global stardom. The four-time major winner welcomed her daughter, Shai, in July and recently reached the quarterfinals in Doha after early exits at the Australian Open and Abu Dhabi Open.
Osaka, known for her perfectionist nature, acknowledged the need to be kind to herself as she navigates her return to professional tennis post-maternity break. Despite facing challenges, she expressed excitement about her current ranking and the progress she has made.
The former world No. 1 is unseeded at the WTA 1000 event but sees it as an opportunity to gain valuable experience by playing more matches. Osaka reflected on her past success at Indian Wells when she was unseeded and emphasized the importance of each match in her journey towards potentially winning another Grand Slam.
Osaka is set to face Italian qualifier Sara Errani in the first round of the tournament on Thursday, eager to continue her comeback and showcase her resilience on the court.
