Naomi Osaka has recently received some compliments. Especially after their surprising triumph at the Premier Mandatory Event in Indian Wells. Martina Navratilova even compares the 20-year-old Japanese woman with the young Serena Williams.
If one believes Navratilova, then Osaka has meanwhile found out how she can “restrain” her powerful play sensibly. Like Serena Williams. “She too had this power, but then learned to control it.”
“Now Osaka has found a way to play smarter tennis,” Navratilova wrote in her wtatennis.com column.
In Miami, shortly after her triumph in the Californian desert, Osaka caused another sensation when she demystified her role model Serena Williams 6-3, 6-2 in the first round of Key Biscayne. It was an indication for Navratilova that the protégé of the Munich-born Sascha Bajin has what it takes to make a great litter.
“Proof that you are a future champion is the way you react to particular successes,” said the former number one. Osaka came from Indian Wells, preserved her form – and beat her former idol Williams.
And in a “dominant way,” as Navratilova added: “She has simply stopped making so many unnecessary mistakes. Once you feel and see how much more effective your game is by directing your power in the right direction, you focus even more on it.
The 61-year-old trusts the world rankings-22. Osaka also made the breakthrough at a Grand Slam event. There is “no doubt” that she has the potential to do so, Navratilova explained: “She has just won a tournament in which everyone has played. If you can win there, you also believe you can succeed on an even bigger stage.”
Osaka, daughter of a father from Haiti and a Japanese mother, had said after her victory over the unseeded wildcard owner Serena Williams: “She was the main reason why I started playing tennis. “I’ve seen Serena so many times on TV and always cheered.”
The primary goal in the first duel with the 23-time Grand Slam champion was “not to lose 0:6, 0:6. I wanted to impress Serena. And I wanted to force her to shout’C’mon!’ at least once,” Osaka reported. The project was a success!