Naomi Osaka: “I couldn’t ask for a better match to prepare myself”

Naomi Osaka beat Katie Boulter 3-6 6-3 6-1 and managed to come back from one set of disadvantage without too much effort, at the Gippsland Trophy in Melbourne, one of the three WTA Tournament that are being played the week before the Australian Open 2021.

Naomi talked about the nervousness she went through during the match and how it helped her during the match.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 26: Naomi Osaka of Japan with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup following victory in her Women’s Singles Final match against Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic during day 13 of the 2019 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 26, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

She said: “Up to the middle of the second set it’s like I was staying in the rear, I was letting her dominate most of the rallies.

I still hadn’t settled in. Yesterday I was extremely nervous before going down again on the court, while today Did all the nervousness go away after I lost the first set?

NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 29: Naomi Osaka of Japan reacts against Angelique Kerber of Germany during their first round Women’s Singles match on Day Two of the 2017 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 29, 2017 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

I became calm again because at that point I just wanted to play well again, without worrying about the result.

I couldn’t ask for a better match to prepare myself. You can’t play games like that in training so I’m happy with how it went, even if it was long.”