Former world number one Naomi Osaka believes she can return to the top ranks of women's tennis by the end of the year, drawing inspiration from her new role as a mother. The four-time Grand Slam champion experienced an early exit at the Australian Open after 15 months away from the sport following the birth of her first child, but she is confident in her comeback as she prepares for the WTA 500 event in Abu Dhabi.
In an interview published on Monday by The National, Osaka said, "Of course, I have a great deal of respect for the higher-ranked players and everything they have accomplished. But I don't see myself as a competitor, which is strange. It's quite bold to say that, but I know what I can do, and I realize people might criticize me for saying this. However, I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that I see myself among them (the top-ranked players). I hope to be able to reach their level by the end of the year. But if it doesn't happen, I will be patient. I've always been patient, so I will reach that level eventually."
For 26-year-old Osaka, who became a mother for the first time last July, there will be sacrifices to return to the top, but her daughter Shai motivates her to achieve her goals. Osaka stated, "I am always the type who prefers to set really big goals, and I might only hit 25 percent of them, but 25 percent is still really amazing. I don't think I would come back and say, 'My goal is to reach the quarterfinals of one of the Grand Slams,' which is still really good, but that isn't the motivation for me to spend time away from my daughter Shai."
Osaka, who plans to play in Dubai, Indian Wells, Miami, and Charleston to regain her form, mentioned that her motherhood has helped her adopt a new perspective.
