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Naomi Osaka
SportTennis

Naomi Osaka says only goal is to ‘have fun’ after ending four-month absence with Melbourne win

  • Japan’s four-time grand slam champion insists she has ‘regained my feeling of love for tennis’
  • Osaka admits she ‘cared a little bit too much about the results and the rankings’ before taking extended break

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Naomi Osaka smiles during a practice session on Margaret Court Arena at the Summer Set tennis tournament ahead of the Australian Open in Melbourne. Photo: AP
Nicolas Atkin

Naomi Osaka opened up on how she regained her “feeling of love” for tennis during her four-month break from the sport, after returning with a win ahead of the Australian Open.

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The four-time grand slam champion kicked off preparations for her title defence with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 win over France’s Alize Cornet on Rod Laver Arena, and will next face Maryna Zanevska in the round of 16.

It was the 24-year-old Japanese star’s first outing since a third-round exit at the US Open, which followed a disappointing early departure from the Tokyo 2020 Games, where she had lit the Olympic Cauldron to close out the opening ceremony.

“I only really have one major goal this year, and it’s completely unrelated to results and stuff like that,” Osaka told reporters in Melbourne.

“I want to feel like every time I step on the court I’m having fun. I can walk off the court knowing that even if I lost, I tried as hard as I could.

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“I’m the type of person that cared a little bit too much about the results and the ranking and stuff like that. And I just need to find a way to enjoy the game again because that’s the reason why I was playing in the first place.”

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