Naomi Osaka perplexed by power struggles after Cincinnati setback
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Naomi Osaka of Japan plays a forehand during her match against Ashlyn Krueger of the United States during qualifying for the Cincinnati Open.
PHOTO: AFP
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CINCINNATI – Naomi Osaka said she still does not feel like herself on court eight months into her comeback season following a maternity break, with the four-time Grand Slam champion puzzled at her lack of power and accuracy.
The Japanese was beaten 3-6, 6-2, 3-6 by American Ashlyn Krueger in the second round of qualifying for the Cincinnati Open on Aug 12, the latest setback in a patchy run of form heading into the final Grand Slam of the year at the US Open from Aug 26-Sept 8.
“My biggest issue currently isn’t losses though. My biggest issue is that I don’t feel like I’m in my body,” the 26-year-old wrote on Instagram a day after her defeat.
“It’s a strange feeling, missing balls I shouldn’t miss, hitting balls softer than I remember I used to. I try to tell myself, ‘It’s fine you’re doing great.
“Just get through this one and keep pushing’, mentally it’s really draining through.
“Internally, I hear myself screaming, ‘What the hell is happening?!?!’”
Osaka returned to action in January after a 15-month break during which she gave birth to her daughter. Now ranked 90th in the world, her best results have been runs to the quarter-finals at Doha and ’s-Hertogenbosch.
She seemed to have found form at the French Open in May, when she pushed world No. 1 and eventual winner Iga Swiatek to three sets in the second round.
Despite her defeat, she was arguably the more dominant player and Swiatek was even left in tears after winning.
“I’ve played a handful of matches this year that I felt like I was myself and I know this moment is probably just a small phase from all the new transitions (clay, grass, clay, hard), however the only feeling I could liken how I feel right now to is being post-partum,” Osaka added.
“That scares me because I’ve been playing tennis since I was three, and the racket should feel like an extension of my hand.”
Her next event will be at Flushing Meadows, where she triumphed in 2018 and 2020, but she said she did not understand why everything about her game felt “almost brand new” again.
“This should be as simple as breathing to me, but it’s not,” added the Japanese, who had gone public with her mental health issues in the past.
“I genuinely did not give myself grace for that fact until just now.”
Despite her struggles, Osaka said she loved putting in the work each day and “eventually having the opportunity to get to where you want to be”.
Ending off her long Instagram post, she said: “Nothing in life is promised but I realised that I can promise myself to work as hard as I can and give it my best shot till the very end.
“See you in New York.” REUTERS
