© Getty Images Sport – Matthew Stockman
Naomi Osaka says she actually finds being unseeded in Indian Wells a positive thing because she would need to make a Grand Slam-like run to win the title in the desert.
Since giving birth and returning to tennis, 26-year-old Osaka has been very open about her intention to return to the top of tennis. This week, four-time Grand Slam champion and former world No. 1 Osaka is playing her fifth tournament of the year in Indian Wells, which she entered via a main draw wild-card.
Exactly six years ago, Osaka introduced herself to the tennis world when she as an unseeded 20-year-old girl won her first WTA title at the WTA 1000 event in Indian Wells. Shortly after becoming a WTA 1000 champion, Osaka also lifted her first Grand Slam title at the 2018 US Open.
Osaka, now ranked at No. 287 in the world, received a wildcard for this year’s Indian Wells edition.
“When I won Indian Wells (in 2018) I wasn’t seeded,” Osaka recalled.
“It’s better for me to play the seven matches because I want to know what it’s like to potentially win a fifth Grand Slam. This is really great practice for me and hopefully I’ll get through my first match and my second match.”
