Naomi Osaka, 24, won her first match at the Australian Open 2022. This marks a big moment in her career since making the decision to take a break for her mental health in June 2021.
When asked about how it feels to have the first Grand Slam win of the season under her belt, Osaka said, “It feels really good.” She mentioned that this year, her goal is to focus on herself more and what she needs to do to become better. Osaka said she can’t expect to win every match, but she wants to expect herself to have fun and to challenge herself.
Coming into the Australian Open, Osaka said, “I felt like I wanted to come back to play tennis . . . I came back when I wanted to come back. There are situations where I previously would get upset, but at this part of my life, I’m here because I want to be here, and because I find that it’s fun for me. So I might as well enjoy it while I still can.”
Osaka added that she feels more comfortable in her own skin and explained that it’s human nature to feel uneasy and want to please everyone. “There was a time after [the] French Open where I felt like everyone was judging me. . . . It feels a bit weird when you go into a stadium to play and you’re kind of concerned what everyone’s gaze means.” She went on, “Right now, I’m trying to learn how to be more selfish, but in a positive way.” Above is video of the postmatch press conference.
