Naomi Osaka has a clear goal and that's to challenge "the big dogs" and she often uses last year's French Open performance against Iga Swiatek to boost her confidence and tell herself that she could still do it.
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On Tuesday, the four-time Grand Slam champion struggled heavily in her Miami opener but after coming only two games away from picking up what would have been a surprise and very disappointing loss, the Japanese went from trailing 4-6 2-4 to Yulia Starodubtseva to beating the qualifier world No. 108 4-6 6-4 6-3.
Later in her presser, Osaka admitted that starting her season so well but then sustaining an unfortunate abdominal injury and seeing herself sidelined for weeks contributed to the nerves she has been feeling lately.
"I just want to play with the big dogs so bad. I just see everyone playing so well, and I want to do the same. But I have to remember it's a process," the former world No. 1 highlighted.
Osaka: When I have a hard day, I think about the Swiatek match
When the Japanese met Swiatek in the French Open second round last year, the current world No. 2 had just kicked off her bid for a third consecutive title at Roland Garros. But then, Osaka - who has never been known as a strong force on clay - came close to becoming the first player since 2021 to beat the world No. 2 in Paris as she had a 5-2 third-set lead and even a match point before the 23-year-old came back to win 7-6 (1) 1-6 7-5.
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That match is really important to me, because I don't typically feel good about my game on clay. To do so well against her, where she's won like three or four French Opens, it was a really good confidence-booster. And I do think about that match sometimes when I'm having a hard day, like today," the Japanese said.
In her next Miami match, Osaka will have a chance to clinch a notable win since she is taking on world No. 21 Liudmila Samsonova.
