AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 17, 2022

Naomi Osaka

Press Conference

N. OSAKA/C. Osorio

6-3, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: You've been in Melbourne awhile, but how does it feel to get the first Grand Slam win of the season?

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, it feels really good. I don't know. Like I've of course played the warmup tournament a week before. I definitely feel like the atmosphere is very different when you're playing the actual slam.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. The tournament has been overshadowed by the Novak Djokovic situation for the last 10 days. How did it feel being on court with that no longer being up in the air? Did it put more emphasis on the sport?

NAOMI OSAKA: I mean, to be completely honest, it didn't really affect me. I saw that it affected the men's draw a little bit so you might have to ask a men's player.

For me, my goal like even before this whole situation is to just, like, focus on myself more, what I need to do to become better.

I wasn't really, like, I guess looking at the news too often.

Q. Did it feel like we can focus entirely on tennis now? Is that where the focus should be, on the athletes?

NAOMI OSAKA: I don't know. I feel like people focus on whatever they want to focus. It's more like an individual question.

Me, I'm a tennis player. I'll focus on my matches. You as I guess an audience focus on whatever is in the news, no?

Q. You're aware of the situation with Peng Shuai in November. Have you had any thoughts in regards to that situation, how she might be?

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, for me, I haven't heard any news. I'm not sure if that's concerning or not.

But I think the WTA, the whole organization, they handled it really well. I'm really proud of them. I think -- I don't know. I feel like it's a situation where we need more information, which is definitely really hard.

Kind of I think everyone is waiting.

Q. You played quite a few backhand slices today successfully. How has that shot developed in your game?

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, I think for me, I've always practiced the backhand slice, but I never felt comfortable enough to use it in a match.

I think just this off-season and then leading into this tournament I was having more fun with myself. Just trying not to really care if I make a mistake hitting the slice because I know that gradually it will become a better shot for me.

Keeping that in mind, I guess that's sort of the mindset that I have in hitting it.

Q. On Instagram a couple days ago you posted that you don't give a blank about what people say about you.

NAOMI OSAKA: Dang, you saw that? I deleted it like three minutes after (laughter).

Q. I thought it was good, a good thing.

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, I didn't know if I was like aggressive. You know how when you text something, it can come off a bit aggressive? So I was like, Hmm, I'm not sure about that.

Yeah, I definitely feel like in my point of my career, it's not like long or anything, but I've kind of been weighed down too much of trying to prove myself and blah, blah, blah. You guys have seen me through that entire phase.

I just want to have fun, first of all. I can't expect myself to win every match, but I do expect myself to have fun and challenge myself.

Q. Do you believe Djokovic should be playing at the Australian Open this year?

NAOMI OSAKA: Is my opinion going to help anything?

Q. Asking what other players think of the situation.

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, I'll kind of pass on that. Thanks, though.

Q. You've had an overhead that you whiffed and immediately started laughing. Seemed like a moment where this more fun attitude came through. Is that a conscious thing you're realizing or is it just easier to be easier on yourself?

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, I think it kind of came throughout this off-season that I had where I felt like I wanted to come back to play tennis. Usually it feels a bit automatic, like we as tennis players have the little break, then we immediately start the off-season again.

For me, I came back when I wanted to come back. I just felt like there are situations where I previously would get upset. But at this point in my life, like, I'm here because I want to be here and because I find that it's fun for me. Might as well enjoy it while I still can.

I think just to be playing on Rod Laver and to have, like, such a good streak on Rod Laver is something I could be proud of and something I enjoy.

Q. (No microphone.)

NAOMI OSAKA: I'm still conscious of it. It's not an automatic thing to laugh about it. I'm trying to change my mindset.

Q. Considering some of the points you've just raised about being more concerned about yourself only, your attitude on court, have you come into this Australian Open with a completely different approach to previous years? Seemed like you were in this sort of frame of mind at last year's Australian Open and things went awry. Coming in this year, do you feel any different?

NAOMI OSAKA: I would say I feel more comfortable in my skin, if that makes sense. Like there's always like the human nature to feel uneasy, to want to like please everyone and stuff like that.

I feel like there was a time after French Open where I felt like everyone was judging me and I couldn't go outside without thinking that everyone around me was -- I don't know. It feels a bit weird when you go into a stadium to play and you're kind of concerned what everyone's gaze means.

I'm not sure if I explained that well. Basically right now I'm trying to learn how to be more selfish but in a positive way.

Q. What was the best part of Orsorio's game and what can she improve?

NAOMI OSAKA: I thought it was really amazing to play against her. I know that she's young. But just like her fighting spirit. It's rare to me to play a younger player. I don't think she's ever played on Rod Laver. She was loud, she was fighting. I think that's something special. I really commended her for that.

I thought she had a great return. She was really bold. She kind of stepped in really close to the line.

But, yeah, what do I think she can improve? There was a game that we played that she hit three double-faults, so maybe that.

Q. A bit off beat. Your boyfriend just dropped his album. I'm sure you listened to his songs beforehand. Rappers usually rap about their own experiences. Are you ever worried or too shy to be mentioned in his songs? When he does mention you in a song, what is that like for you?

NAOMI OSAKA: It doesn't cross my mind that often because he always asks permission. But, yeah, I mean, I feel like that's the most amazing part about it. He actually writes his lyrics. He has to take the time to actually experience the things that he does. It's a really fascinating process.

I don't really get too concerned about it, no.

Q. You seem to be maybe a little superstitious today about stepping on the Melbourne sign on the court. Is that true? Can you talk about how that came to be and why that is?

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, honestly I've always been like that. Every time I've come here, I really don't like stepping on the lines or the Melbourne logo in the back. I'm not really sure why that developed.

I would say that most athletes have very strong superstitions. It could be one thing, it could be two things. For me it's definitely the lines and the logo. Also I need my water bottles to be completely straight. I'm not sure why that is, but...

Q. I wanted to ask you also about mindset. Obviously you spoke about enjoying your tennis. I wonder whether that is different than enjoying competition for you, for a top player like you? Is there a difference between the two?

NAOMI OSAKA: You know, I honestly never thought about it that way, but I do know for me competition is, like, the funnest part of it. I really hate practicing. For me, I find kind of no meaning in it. No offense to Wim (smiling).

Yeah, I don't know, I love playing matches and going through that whole process. Maybe the fun part for me is the competition itself.

Q. Was there a particular turning point when you realized what it would be to have fun on the court again and to be able to maximize the experience? If so, what was that turning point and what did it mean to you?

NAOMI OSAKA: Hmm. I would say the turning point was after the US Open last year. I was just sitting in my house wondering, like, what do I want to do in the future. I felt like there's still so many things that I want to do in tennis. I haven't played Wimbledon in, like, two to three years. I want to go back and experience that whole thing.

It's like a little bit of unfinished business, but also knowing that everything can't be perfect all the time. I accept the fact that I'll have dips, and I need to figure out a way to overcome it.

(Naomi's answers to questions in Japanese.)

NAOMI OSAKA: I definitely felt like she stepped in on my second serve. At the same time I think my second serve isn't that bad. I don't know, I couldn't really risk too much. I wanted to, of course, change it up a lot just to keep her on her toes. At the same time I practiced my second serve for a couple months now so I have to keep going and keep trying to improve on that.

Of course, some of it is match play. I don't know, she did well. I would say that.

Yeah, I would definitely say I think the videos that Wim showed me, of course they were really informative. It would have been a little bit troublesome if he didn't show me that.

I honestly take that information with a grain of salt because I usually feel like people play me a bit differently from everyone else. I think they play a bit more high risk or up-tempo because they know I'll try to be the aggressive one. There's always like that factor for me.

It's the first round. I don't really take the result, if that makes sense. I try to think of how my mentality was. I think I was pretty solid. I think I was up 5-0 and had a little dip, but I was fortunate enough to close it out. I think that's something that I hope I'm not in that position in my next match. If I am, I already did it this time around, so I guess I'll learn from it.

Yeah, I mean, of course today was tough. It's always tough to play against someone younger. Honestly, it doesn't bother me as much as it used to. I kind of feel like a veteran at this point on tour. I feel like there's so many kids that are born in the 2000s, it's freaking me out.

But, yeah, I think the most important thing is to have fun with it. I remember being in her position. I think here, I played Azarenka. I know what it feels like to have no fear and to just go for everything you can. Of course, that's very dangerous, but at the same time it's fun.