Naomi Osaka stands at the brink of a significant milestone in her career, seeking her fifth major title and her first since becoming a mother. As she gears up for the Australian Open, Osaka faces a challenging draw featuring players she's familiar with, including Belinda Bencic, Coco Gauff, and Aryna Sabalenka. Despite these challenges, her heart remains tethered to Los Angeles, where raging wildfires have come alarmingly close to her home. Osaka diligently monitors the situation back home, balancing her professional commitments with personal concerns.
Osaka's season began on a promising note as she reached the final in Auckland, New Zealand. This marked her first final since returning from maternity leave 12 months ago. Her performance there set a positive tone for the Australian Open. However, she faces a formidable opponent in the second round, Karolína Muchová. Although Osaka holds a winning record against Muchová, the Czech player has defeated her once before, adding an extra layer of anticipation to their upcoming match.
In Los Angeles, wildfires have been raging for days, creating a pressing concern for Osaka. She keeps a close eye on the fire map and noted that the fire is alarmingly close to her house.
“I was watching the fire map, and the fire is like three blocks from my house. So I had someone go and get my daughter’s birth certificate and all that because I didn’t know what would happen if that burned down.”
Osaka's connection to Los Angeles is deeply personal. She expressed the emotional toll of being away from home while ensuring her family's safety.
“It is really difficult for me because I think it’s tougher now because I find my home is more of a home because I have memories with my daughter, and there’s so many things like keepsakes and stuff like that, and obviously you can’t hoard them all when you’re asking someone to go to your house and just grab stuff.”
In Melbourne, Osaka hopes to channel her focus on tennis despite these distractions. Her determination to succeed is apparent as she seeks her third Australian Open title and her first grand slam title since winning in Melbourne in 2021.
“But I’m hoping this time my tennis can shine a little bit better. And also, I love getting difficult draws, like I find that the most fun. It’s kind of like once you get a difficult draw you can prove that you’re the best of the best.”
Osaka faced Caroline Garcia in an earlier round and emerged victorious, improving her record against Garcia to 3-2. She wore a Los Angeles Lakers jersey and a Los Angeles hat with a heart during the press conference, symbolizing her connection to her city amidst the ongoing crisis.
“Honestly, I don’t think I’ve been doing the greatest keeping focus, but obviously I won, so I think it’s an acceptable job.”
Osaka's journey through the Australian Open will test both her mental fortitude and physical prowess. Facing potential matches against familiar adversaries like Belinda Bencic adds an additional layer of complexity. Although Osaka has previously triumphed over Bencic, she acknowledges the Swiss player's capability to challenge her.
“Obviously I fell a little short in the US Open, but my outfit was spectacular.”
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