© Getty Images Sport – Clive Brunskill
Naomi Osaka admitted she looked up to Novak Djokovic’s return tactics after ending her three-match losing streak in Doha.
On Monday, four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka started her Doha campaign with a very notable win as she beat former world No. 4 Caroline Garcia 7-5 6-4. Going into the match against Garcia, Osaka was riding a three-match losing streak and one of those three losses came against the Frenchwoman at the Australian Open.
When Osaka and Garcia met at the Australian Open, the Japanese didn’t have a single break point in a 4-6 6-7 (2) loss. This time, Osaka was jumping in with both feet on her return as her goal was to try to be more aggressive and make it more difficult for Garcia in the Frenchwoman’s service games.
“I did change my return — I don’t want to say ‘style,’ but I guess form. I don’t know how to describe it. Like, before I was taking one step, one step, and then jumping in, but now I’m kind of just jumping in with both feet, because apparently Djokovic does that, so why not copy the best returner in the world (smiling)?” Osaka said.
“Definitely. I had a conversation with Wim, and it was just kind of frustrating knowing that my serve is, like, one of the best serves, dare I say, in the world,…
