Some trends can’t really go out of style; for some that do, Naomi Osaka might try reviving them. The Japanese star, currently on an injury hiatus, has been active on socials to share glimpses of her daily routine. For those unaware, the former World No. 1 last competed at the Australian Open. Osaka started the season strong at the ASB Classic, where she reached the finals but was unable to end her title drought after injury concerns forced her to withdraw mid-match. Apart from recouping and restoring her A-game before returning to the fold, Osaka experimented with a somewhat ‘out-of-style’ wardrobe check.
Unfortunately, Osaka’s abdominal injury that forced her to withdraw from the final of the ASB Classic got carried onto Melbourne as well. She recorded a couple of impressive performances to set up a third-round date against Belinda Bencic, however, physical restraint flared up again after losing the first set and she had to concede the contest. Since then, Osaka hasn’t been on the tour. She joined forces with Serena Williams‘ ex-coach Patrick Mouratoglou last year which helped her find her form. Talking to ‘CNN Sport’ on February 22, the 4-time GS winner highlighted having big plans for the new season.
“I think I’m playing well, even from last year, the end of last year. I have a lot of goals going forward. For as long as I can play, I want to win Wimbledon and Roland Garros (the French Open) and get a career grand slam.” But, before she gets a chance to get the job done, Osaka shared a post on Instagram that saw multiple snaps of her training on-court. Moreover, she also asked fans about the possibility of bringing back an outmoded fashion trend. “Are skinny jeans making a comeback?” she captioned the post.
Osaka returned to the circuit last year in January after a 15-month maternity leave. Her path to comeback has met with resistance. Despite recording multiple withdrawals due to injuries, having Mouratoglou in her coaching team has raised hopes for the 27-year-old. The Japanese sensation is hungry for more but won’t settle for anything less than she deserves. Before kicking off her 2025 camp, the Japanese stated she wouldn’t “hang around” if she couldn’t meet her ranking expectations.
“I don’t think I’m the type of player that would hang around. I have a lot of respect for all the players on tour, but the point of my life that I’m at right now if I’m not above a certain ranking, I don’t see myself playing for a while,” Osaka told reporters at a pre-tournament presser in Auckland. She won’t throw in the towel without a fight though and, to much excitement, the latest updates show us that she is gearing up for a return soon.
Naomi Osaka confirms participation in Indian Wells
Japanese superstar Naomi Osaka has missed a lot this month. Recovering from her abdominal injury meant she was sidelined from the Middle East swing. The four-time Slam champion missed two Masters 1000 events – Qatar and Dubai – but, is looking to return for another blockbuster soon.
She recently held a Q&A session on her official IG page when one of her fans asked “What tourney r u going to play next??? I miss watching u play since AO,” to which she replied – “I’m playing Indian Wells. I miss you guys also.” Osaka, during an interview with CNN Sports, also revealed American legend Venus Williams as her special motivation. “She’s probably the reason why I started playing. It makes me really excited to go to the tournament and see her,” the Japanese said.
Sadly, her plans to cross paths with the five-time Wimbledon winner came to a halt. The tournament announced Venus would not feature at Indian Wells despite receiving a wildcard entry. Williams, who has appeared at the event nine times, with her first appearance coming back in 1994, confirmed the update by saying, “I’m not playing. I’m going to be overseas. I’m not gonna be here.”
Disappointing news for Osaka, regardless, the Japanese player will look to focus on her upcoming adventure in Indian Wells, slated to commence on Friday, March 7.
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