Naomi Osaka, making her comeback to the competition where she won her maiden WTA championship, remarked that she feels completely at home at Indian Wells.
The Japanese player, who was on maternity leave the previous year, was thrilled to be returning to Indian Wells with her little daughter.
The Beverly Hills resident Osaka told reporters, “It’s nice to get in the car and be able to drive here.”
“And I brought my kid, so it’s good to see her again after a long absence. It does have a slight sense of familiarity.”
Osaka won the U.S. Open later that year after her victory at Indian Wells, which put her on the fast track to become one of the most well-known and lucrative athletes in the world.
The four-time major winner made it to the quarterfinals in Doha this year after losing in the first rounds of the Australian Open and Abu Dhabi Open. She gave birth to her daughter Shai in July.
As she gets back on her feet following her maternity leave, the 26-year-old admitted that she is a “perfectionist” but added that she is attempting to be easier on herself.
“I’ve had dreams of what I want to achieve and obviously losing in the first round of the Australian Open wasn’t in my dreams, but I have to be really realistic and kind to myself,” she stated.
“I was overjoyed to arrive at the quarters when I was in Doha. Although I’m thrilled to be in the top 200, I would have loved to have performed better.”
The former world number one stated that she doesn’t mind not getting seeded in the WTA 1000 competition, where players with seeds get a first-round bye.
“When I won Indian Wells (in 2018) I wasn’t seeded,” she stated.
“Playing the full seven matches will benefit me more because I want to experience what it would be like to perhaps win a fifth Grand Slam. I’m hoping that this practice will help me win both my first and second matches. It’s been amazing.”
On Thursday, Osaka takes on Italian qualifier Sara Errani in the opening round.