QATAR TOTAL ENERGIES OPEN

February 11, 2024

Naomi Osaka

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to Doha. First time here since 2018. How does it feel to be back?

NAOMI OSAKA: It feels really good. I think a lot has changed in the city. It's just really incredible to, I guess, step on the court once again.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. You had some tough words about your last match because you weren't happy about the level. How difficult it is for you to juggle with your own expectations and maybe the reality that it's going to take time, or maybe you thought it would come quicker? Is it mentally difficult to give yourself some grace?

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, I mean, it definitely is hard for me to not be tough on myself, but I think honestly after Abu Dhabi, I actually have more confidence in myself now, which is a little strange, but I think that, for me, was the worst thing that could happen.

I feel like since I have seen the worst that can happen, I think, like, everything else is a plus. In Australia I know that I said I was only going to play Dubai, so I feel like I have to take these tournaments as extra credit. Someone said to me it's like a very expensive practice, so I don't know, after they said that, I felt pretty optimistic (smiling).

Q. Which are your remaining main goals of 2024? You will play in the Olympic Games?

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, I'll play if they let me play. I think I have to play Fed Cup and have a ranking higher than 70 or 60, so hopefully I'm able to achieve those two goals and be able to go to Paris. But I would definitely love to if I'm allowed to.

Q. Strictly because you are getting Caroline Garcia again...

NAOMI OSAKA: Sorry for laughing.

Q. No, we laughed too. How is it? Maybe it's a good thing because you've played her in Australia, or do you think the draws you got, you come back and you're, like, What? Why?

NAOMI OSAKA: No, in all honesty, I have never believed in, like, unlucky draws. I have always felt like whoever is the better player deserves to win at the end of the day.

For me, I almost feel better if I play tougher opponents, because I think, like, I learn more from the matches. So of course it's kind of funny to hear that I'm playing her again, but I'm a little happy. Like, she's always been a really nice person, and I know I'm not supposed to think that about my opponent, but I know we also share the same birthday (smiling). At the end of the day, a Libra is going to win. (Laughter.)

Q. What do you notice has changed in the WTA Tour since you came back after 15 months or something?

NAOMI OSAKA: I don't know. I feel like I have only been at four tournaments, one of them was a slam, but I think the biggest thing that I have noticed is that there are so many quality players.

Of course it was like that when I left, as well, but I think just watching the top players play like Iga, Sabalenka, of course, Coco, and just seeing them kind of grow into their games was really inspiring for me. It made me really want to play them.

(Naomi's answers to questions in Japanese.)

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, so I think I decided that I was going to play these tournaments, like, a day after I lost in Australia, in Melbourne. It was kind of more like I had a talk with my team, and we sort of decided that it was probably better to play Abu Dhabi and Doha and kind of see how it goes with Dubai as opposed to just going and only playing Dubai.

I think it's been a long time since I have been on this side of the world, so I wasn't really aware of what weeks that Dubai and Doha are, and I didn't know Dubai was so close to Indian Wells now, so that was my bad (smiling). But, yeah, it was quite a funny conversation, but I'm glad to be here now, so...

Yeah, I mean, I think for me it's so early in the season, so I don't really feel tired or anything. I think I'm also -- when I was pregnant, I was jealous of everyone that could travel, so I think right now I'm kind of happy to not be stuck at home.

Of course I really miss my daughter, but I'm looking forward to her traveling with me, because she'll come to Europe. I guess that also makes me very excited to go to Europe.

Yeah, the scheduling, it's a little bit of a winning-it type of thing too, because I'm hoping that I will do better and win more matches and maybe I won't have to play that many tournaments. But we'll see.

Yeah, so left Melbourne a day after I lost my match and went back to see my daughter. I honestly didn't really talk to anyone during that time. It was just kind of, for me, the longest that I have been away from her, so I just wanted to hang out with her a lot.

I guess seeing her reinforced my goal to, like, do better at every tournament. Of course I think Abu Dhabi wasn't the greatest (smiling), but I really want to bring her to as many tournaments as I can.

So she's coming to Indian Wells and Miami. You won't see her, though, because I guess she'll just be at the house, but I think I do need to be a lot smarter with my scheduling, because I really want to make time for her and I don't want her to not have me in her memories.