Naomi Osaka feeling 'like a newbie' on grass, aiming to repeat Iga Swiatek performance at French Open

ByJames Walker-Roberts

Published 12/06/2024 at 09:23 GMT

Naomi Osaka made an impressive start to her first grass season since 2019 as she beat fourth seed Elise Mertens in straight sets at the Libema Open. The former world No. 1 has spoken about her return to playing on grass and how she wants to follow up her display against Iga Swiatek at the French Open that saw her have a match point against the eventual winner.

Naomi Osaka says she feels “like a newbie” on grass again and wants to continue to show the level that saw her push Iga Swiatek to the limit at the French Open.

Osaka recorded her first grass win since 2019 with an impressive 6-2 6-4 victory over fourth seed Elise Mertens at the Libema Open.

Osaka’s most recent match on the surface had been when she lost in the first round of Wimbledon in 2019.

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“I'm kind of taking it as if this is my first year on grass," Osaka said after beating Mertens.

"I think even now, this is my first time at this tournament so in some ways I feel like a newbie all over again.

"I've been in Europe since April, so this is a lot of commitment for me. I'm really happy that I'm doing this."

Osaka has been back on tour for six months after giving birth last July.

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Her best result so far was making the quarter-finals in Qatar, while she finished her clay season by giving eventual champion Swiatek her toughest test at the French Open.

"I play better in the big stages against the best players," said Osaka about that contest, in which she held a match point and led 5-2 in the third set.

"I think I've always been that way. It's more that I need to keep that level in smaller events."

Osaka’s victory over Mertens was only her 23rd career match on grass.

Just as on clay, she is yet to make a final on grass, with her best showing coming in Nottingham in 2018 when she reached the semis.

Against Mertens she faced just a single break point in her second service game of the match and won 90 percent of her first-serve points.

"Definitely really happy with my serve," she said.

"I felt probably more confident in it on this surface than any other surface, so I'm glad I was able to pick that up quite fast.

"What do I need to improve? Probably being more confident on my returns. I felt I got a little hesitant and kind of reverted back to clay court. I thought about pushing back my returns at a certain point. But I know I have to commit."

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Osaka next faces wild card Suzan Lamens as she bids to make the quarter-finals.

"I felt initially on clay, coming back this year, more comfortable than my first day on grass," Osaka said.

"But I'm being told that I'm playing pretty well in practice. I think I just need a lot more days on it and I need to believe in myself a lot more.

"Hopefully if I win a lot more matches during these preparation tournaments then I'll believe in myself. That's the key."

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