She could hardly choose a worse mentor.
To finally succeed on clay, Naomi Osaka decided to take inspiration from Rafael Nadal, the master of ochre.
“I think I stole one of the methods he uses from him and applied it to training recently, said the former world No. 1, who trained for several days in Mallorca, on the lands of Rafa.
It's as if I had one more string to my bow.
»
Well, unfortunately for all the players and for us amateurs, Naomi Osaka has not delivered the miracle recipe used by the Manacor bull which will make her the future queen of Roland-Garros.
"I wanted to watch the very good clay court players in training, because I think I'm the kind of person who learns really fast if I watch closely," added the Japanese.
No title on clay
After a difficult year 2021 on the psychological level, Osaka, now 36th in the world at 24, made her return to the fore by reaching the final of the WTA 1000 in Miami at the beginning of April where she yielded to the world N.1, Iga Swiatek.
But she has never passed the 3rd round at Roland-Garros, in five participations, and has still not won a title on clay.
“Either it will work really well or really badly, there is no in-between.
But I think the way I did it, it went pretty well.
»
Sport
Tennis: Naomi Osaka realizes "how much it can help" to work with a psychotherapist
Sport
Australian Open: Defending champion, Naomi Osaka released in the 3rd round in Melbourne
Rafael Nadal
Tennis
Clay
Roland Garros
Sport