Naomi Osaka stated she was attempting to not really feel “like a failure” after her comeback hit one other roadblock with a 7-5, 6-0 defeat to former world quantity seven Danielle Collins within the first spherical of the Abu Dhabi Open on Tuesday.
“I say some fairly harsh phrases about myself. I do know the phrase, but when I say it, it sounds actually unhealthy. I felt slightly like a ‘failure’, however I don’t need to be too harsh,” Osaka instructed AFP within the UAE capital after her straight units defeat.
The Japanese star returned final month from a 15-month absence from the tour, throughout which she gave delivery to her first baby Shai, however has been handed some tough attracts and misplaced three of her 4 matches thus far this marketing campaign.
The previous world primary additionally misplaced in straight units within the doubles in a while Tuesday, alongside Ons Jabeur, however feels that efficiency helped her shake off her earlier disappointment.
“I’m much less assured however I’m not too unconfident to suppose that I can’t play actually good tennis,” four-time Grand Slam winner Osaka stated.
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“I actually suppose I simply have to get via a very robust match after which kind of acknowledge that that’s going to occur fairly a few instances.”
Regardless of an in depth opening set that witnessed supreme serving from each gamers, Osaka struggled in her service video games within the second set and did not convert any of her six break level alternatives to fall to the American qualifier in a single hour and 23 minutes.
“Everybody round me is telling me I’m taking part in nicely and I don’t suppose I’m taking part in unhealthy,” she continued.
“I simply have to consider in myself extra and I believe as quickly as I bought damaged my perception dipped rather a lot.”
Subsequent chapter
Osaka will subsequent head to Doha for the Qatar Open and says she “may need to play Dubai” however is not sure as of but.
In the meantime, Collins improved her head-to-head report in opposition to Osaka to 2-3 and can tackle top-seeded Elena Rybakina within the second spherical.
The 30-year-old Collins has introduced this will likely be her last season on tour and has herself navigated some brutal attracts in her first 5 weeks of 2024.
On the Australian Open, she beat three-time main winner Angelique Kerber earlier than falling to world primary Iga Swiatek in spherical two.
She has been handed two extra grand slam champions in Abu Dhabi within the type of Osaka and 2022 Wimbledon winner Rybakina.
Collins stated desirous to reside a traditional life away from the fixed journey and the each day grind on tour was the primary purpose behind her determination to retire on the finish of the season.
“At this level I really feel like I’m prepared for the following chapter and I’m actually enthusiastic about it,” she stated.
“I wanted to have an finish date and it provides my household and buddies the power to come back help me in some last tournaments. I believe that will likely be actually particular,” stated the participant from Florida.