Naomi Osaka, the former world No. 1, is brimming with optimism as she senses a breakthrough on the horizon. Following her second-round exit from the Mutua Madrid Open, Osaka took to social media to express her belief that something significant is about to happen.
“I think I’m on to something. It’s all about to click, I feel it in the air,” Osaka wrote, accompanied by a photo of herself in action at the tournament.
Osaka’s positive outlook stems from her recent performances on clay, her least-favored surface. She secured her first clay-court victory since 2022 in the opening round against Greet Minnen before falling to No. 15 seed Liudmila Samsonova in three hard-fought sets.
Despite the setback, Osaka remains determined to embrace clay courts. “There’s definitely beauty to it, and I’m taking a lot of inspiration from people who do well on it,” she said. “I’m not expecting to be like Iga [Swiatek], but I just want to do the best with what I have.”
Osaka’s recent appearance on “Good Trouble with Nick Kyrgios” also provided her with an opportunity to reflect on her past, present, and future. She expressed her desire to leave a lasting legacy and emphasized the importance of cherishing every moment.
“How bold of me to assume I’ll live long enough to fade away,” Osaka wrote. “After all, nothing in life is promised. Every day and every breath is a blessing, it should be viewed as such.”
Osaka’s focus now shifts to the upcoming Internazionali BNL d’Italia, where she will make her fifth career appearance. The four-time Grand Slam champion will be eager to build on her recent progress and continue her journey towards rediscovering her best form.
