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Osaka driven by winning desire

The Straits Times

|

December 30, 2024

Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka said on Dec 29 she still had a "deep love" for tennis and was excited for the coming season, believing she can revisit her former glories.

- AFP

The 27-year-old Japanese has struggled for consistency since returning to the court in January after the birth of her daughter Shai in July 2023.

Her best results since then have been two quarter-final appearances, which Osaka called "very painful".

"I think 2024 humbled me, but I think I also grew a lot," she said at the Auckland Classic, which she is using as a springboard to the Australian Open - the Grand Slam tournament she won in 2019 and 2021.

"I worked way harder than I ever have before and it was very painful to not get the results I wanted, but I feel like I am growing and learning.

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