A year ago, Naomi Osaka was at the US Open watching Coco Gauff from up in the stands and felt "very inspired" to play again. "At that time, I didn't know at what level could I play," suggested the four-time Grand Slam champion. "I promised myself this is going to be the tournament where I do the best."
It's pretty wild that the 2018 and 2020 US Open champion, a former world No. 1, is a wild card this time around. Of course, that's because the 26-year-old was off the tour last season on maternity leave.
Indeed, 2024 has represented a season of readjustment for Osaka, who has accumulated an 18-15 mark in match play and has already hauled herself back up to No. 85 in the rankings, despite only two victories in the year's previous three Grand Slams.
There have been plenty of promising moments, as well as plenty of moments with Osaka reaching for her former full-throttle game. Earlier this month the Japanese taliswoman posted a journal-style reflection of her tennis on Instagram, not understanding "why everything has to feel almost brand new again," while also scribing that she's come to the realization that "I love the process (though the process doesn't love me sometimes haha), putting in the work every day and eventually having the opportunity to get to where you want to be."
It's been simmering below the surface this season and Osaka has been taken aback by her progress.
"I think when I got to Australia earlier this year and when I played the French Open (including a pulsating three-set thriller with world No.1 Iga Swiatek), honestly I'm a little shocked sometimes at the level," said Osaka during her pre-tournament press conference.
"Obviously I want to be in the Top 10, and I want to do all these things, but in the back of my mind, remember not being able to run, if that makes sense, or not being able to do a sit-up. In some moments I'm really amazed.
"I came here with the specific goal of doing the absolute best that I can… it's a really incredible feeling to be back here."
Osaka has been fine-tuning in New York City following a second-round showing at the Toronto WTA 1000 and qualifying exit in Cincinnati. The feel-good factor is evident in her words.
"I feel way better now. I'm able to practice at a really high level. I hope that I'm able to play matches at a really high level, too. But I definitely feel like I needed a lot of practice time on hard courts," stated the mentally tuned-in two-time Queen of Queens. "Actually I would say I made a promise to myself to be as confident as I can in the fact that I am who I am.
"Throughout the year I have had really hard matches, and it kind of dipped my confidence a little. I wouldn't say that I played bad tennis. I just would say that I played really good players, and I also learned a lot.
"I do think coming to this specific tournament helps me out. But also, whenever I step foot here, I don't really think about the two tournaments I won. I just think about how I felt when I was a kid, because I did grow up coming here, and I have such vivid memories of watching my favorite players… Nadal, Serena, Venus, Sharapova. It's more of a childhood nostalgia that I really enjoy."
Osaka admits when she was at the summit of the sport she would be focused on ranking points and was wrestling with how to defend her major titles, not seeing each week as a new opportunity. Now, the 26-year-old insists "my mind has opened up."
The world No. 85 will have to be open minded over the net from the unpredictable, frequently unplayable force of No. 10 seed Jelena Ostapenko. Their only previous duel was a straight sets passage for Osaka back at Roland Garros 2016. Since then, they've both become Grand Slam champions. What a blockbuster opener.
"I think it's going to be really fun. She's honestly one of my favorite players to watch. I think we are polar opposites in a way," mused Osaka. "I respect her a lot. She was the first player in our generation to win a Grand Slam. She's a champion. I'm really looking forward to it."
