Naomi Osaka has expressed that she is never bothered by fans greeting her during practice, stating that it still feels surreal to be in her current position as a top tennis player. The Japanese tennis star recently held a Q&A session on Instagram, where many fans inquired about her rigorous training regimen.
When asked by a fan if it bothers her when they say hello during practice, Osaka replied, “Honestly not at all. I still think of myself as the kid practicing on public courts, so it’s always a shock and an honor that you guys know who I am. I genuinely don’t know how I got here.” Despite facing challenges on the court in recent seasons, Osaka remains one of the most accomplished players of her generation, with four Grand Slam titles to her name.
Osaka, who has been training hard this preseason, is recovering from back and abdominal injuries that sidelined her from several tournaments in early October. In response to a fan’s question about her off-season, she humorously shared a photo of her blistered hand, captioning it, “Good, I think I’m turning into a tennis ball haha.”
Many of her fans have expressed a desire for more updates on her training. One fan asked, “Will you please post more from tennis training this preseason?” Osaka acknowledged their interest but emphasized her preference to avoid using her phone during practice, stating, “Sorry, I’ll try my best. I always think it’s disrespectful to be on the phone during practice, so I rarely get photos/videos. I’ll try to ask someone to film something next time.”
In addition to her training, Osaka has made significant changes to her coaching team. She recently hired Patrick Mouratoglou, former coach of Serena Williams, after parting ways with Wim Fissette following the US Open. Osaka noted that she initially hesitated to work with Mouratoglou due to his high profile but quickly grew to appreciate his coaching style. “I think the fact that he was Serena’s coach made me want to avoid him, but he absolutely is a really good coach. I’m really glad that he’s taking this project on as well,” she said.
Osaka has conveyed her respect for Mouratoglou and her commitment to their collaboration. “I kind of look to the floor when he looks at me. I think I need a lot more time to spend together with him. I’m getting a little more comfortable day by day,” she admitted. With Mouratoglou’s extensive experience coaching top players like Simona Halep and Stefanos Tsitsipas, Osaka believes he is the right person to help her achieve her post-pregnancy goals and return to Grand Slam contention.
“I like the way he coaches. I think it’s going to be really interesting. I’m at a stage in my life where I don’t want to have regrets. I’d rather pull the trigger on something and learn as much as possible in this stage of my career,” she explained.
As Osaka prepares for the upcoming season, she is set to begin her 2025 campaign in the first week of January in Auckland, signaling her determination to return to the top of the sport.
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