Naomi Osaka’s Comeback at the US Open
Naomi Osaka has advanced to the third round of the US Open for the first time since her triumphant 2021 run, marking a significant comeback in her performance at Flushing Meadows. Currently seeded 23rd, Osaka showcased her skills with a decisive victory over Hailey Baptiste, winning 6-3, 6-1 in just 70 minutes on Thursday.
New Coaching Strategy
Under the guidance of her new coach, Tomasz Wiktorowski, Osaka is adjusting her game strategy and embracing a fresh approach. Despite her progress, she remains uncertain about her potential for deeper success in this tournament.
“Honestly, I don’t really know. I don’t make it my business to know anymore. I kind of just leave it up in the air,”
she stated after the match. The Japanese star expressed confidence in her preparation, noting,
“I’ve trained really hard. If it happens, it happens.”
Osaka’s Performance History
Osaka’s career has been marked by success on hard courts, with a total of four Grand Slam titles to her name, split evenly between the US Open and the Australian Open. However, her last three appearances at the US Open since her 2020 championship have all ended early: a third-round exit in 2021, a first-round loss in 2022, and a second-round defeat last year.
Playing Style and Strategy
The hard court surface is well-suited to Osaka’s strong serving and aggressive style of play, which she utilized effectively against Baptiste. Furthermore, she demonstrated an impressive ability to return serves, winning over 60% of her return games thus far.
Collaboration with Wiktorowski
Osaka’s collaboration with Wiktorowski, who previously worked with Iga Swiatek, began after her exit from Wimbledon where she parted ways with coach Patrick Mouratoglou. Wiktorowski has emphasized the importance of shot placement, pushing Osaka to focus less on hitting winners and more on strategic play.
Speaking about her initial impressions of the coach, Osaka admitted,
“Honestly, I didn’t know him, I thought he was very scary, because he’s very tall and he didn’t smile. But now that we’re working together, I see that he smiles often. He has a very friendly smile, and it’s very nice. That’s my little fun fact about Tomasz.”
