Naomi Osaka has revealed that her goal for the rest of the season is to return to the top 10 in the world and by 2023 to reach No. 1 once more. Osaka, who arrived in Miami as a ranked 77th player in the world, is already guaranteed to return to the Top 40 following her fine run to the Mastes 1000 final.
“I think by next year or by the end of this year I would like to be in the Top 10,” Osaka said, according to the WTA website. “By next year, I would also like to be back in first place.
Oh, that’s a big statement! Erase that. But you know what ? I will set myself this goal. Top 1, yes. No.1,” the Japanese happily announced. “It feels good to pursue something, and I think maybe it was a feeling that I missed, like striving to do better.
For me, it’s cool to see where the level of the No. 1 player is, because it lets me know if I can achieve it.”
Osaka spoke of a potential rivalry with Iga Swiatek
Naomi Osaka reached her first final on the tour in over a year, before suffering a 6-4, 6-0 loss to current No.
1 in the world, Swiatek. It was the second meeting between the two tennis champions and Swiatek’s first win over Osaka. “Rivalries are what keep the sport going. People like to see games being played in different countries or different surfaces.
But, I think the most exciting thing regarding tennis is that you play at different altitudes and in different conditions. And so here it is. I don’t know if she really sees me as a rival, but of course it would be fun (to have a big rivalry with her),” the Japanese champion said.
“I think she’s really amazing for the sport. All the young players, like Raducanu, Coco, I think we have this new generation. I don’t know if I’m part of the new generation as well.
I might be like a daycare center. Anyway, it’s really cool to see a (very) young player at the top.”
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