Naomi Osaka has recently spoken out about her admiration for tennis icons Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Maria Sharapova.
The four-time Grand Slam champion took to social media on Tuesday, October 3, to answer some questions from his followers. The Japanese, who has been absent from the tour since September 2022, discusses his favorite tennis players, his favorite racket designs and much more.
Osaka revealed she has learned to appreciate Novak Djokovic, currently world number one and the most successful men’s player of all time with 24 Grand Slam titles, calling him an “unforgettable player” “Confidence” tennis player.
“Honestly, as I’ve grown up, I’ve really grown to appreciate Novak more. Purely as a tennis player, this guy is incredible lol,” Osaka wrote on Instagram.
The former world number one also expressed her admiration for Serena Williams, as well as Rafael Nadal and Maria Sharapova, who are known for their intensity and determination on the court.
“Everyone knows I love Serena and I admire the focus Nadal and Sharapova put into every match,” she added.
However, Osaka didn’t name her favorite player, instead saying she liked the qualities of a group of different players.
“I don’t have a favorite though. I like the quality of a bunch of different players,” she continued.
Naomi Osaka targets the 2024 Australian Open as her comeback tournament
Osaka had been struggling with her performance for more than a year before going on maternity leave. But the four-time Grand Slam winner is determined to achieve the expected return.
In a chat with Nippon TV Channel, Osaka expressed her determination to continue competing at the highest level. She expressed her hope to win eight more Grand Slam trophies on top of her existing four. She is also targeting a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“I really wanted to play again and when I found out I was pregnant, I said to myself, ‘Okay, I will definitely play better in the future’. I believe this baby will inspire me to work harder and give me more opportunities. “The best,” Osaka said.
The last time Osaka won a Grand Slam title was at the 2021 Australian Open. The 25-year-old revealed her on-field goals in an interview as she spoke about winning more trophies.
“I want to win eight more Grand Slams and try to win a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. This is one of the most exciting goals for me to return to sport. I took a break but I always feel very competitive Strong and full of desire to win the most important competition in the sport again,” she added.
Osaka last played at the 2022 Japan Open, when she had to withdraw from the round of 16 due to injury.
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