Naomi Osaka brimming with confidence after defeating Ons Jabeur in straight sets at Canadian Open

Naomi Osaka defeated Ons Jabeur in straight sets at the Canadian Open, a result that unlined how confident she is feeling right now.

Naomi Osaka brimming with confidence after defeating Ons Jabeur in straight sets at Canadian Open

Naomi Osaka (Image via SuperSport)

Japanese tennis ace and former World No. 1 Naomi Osaka is brimming with confidence after she beat Ons Jabeur in her first-round match at the Canadian Open. Osaka beat the Tunisian 6-2, 6-1, stamping her authority and sending a message to the tennis fraternity.

When she was asked how she pulled off a straight-set win against a top 20 player, Osaka gave an interesting answer. The 26-year-old said that those who have followed her journey know she loves to “go through mountains and hills”.

YouTube video

Osaka also mentioned her fondness for hard courts as the reason for her dominant win over two-time Wimbledon finalist Jabeur. The Japanese further claimed that playing against a tough opponent only helps her perform better.

FS Video
Everyone knows I really love hard courts. I wasn’t thinking too much. It felt instinctual. Honestly, When I play the best players like Ons, I tend to play better. So I think that helped me out. I don’t know about how she pulled off a straight-set win). I think if you’ve followed my journey a little I kind of go through mountains and hills. Now I’m feeling quite confident in myself as a person and a player. I think that showed a little.
Naomi Osaka said

Osaka will face Elise Mertens of Belgium in the second round. Mertens beat American Katie Volynets 6-3, 6-1.

RELATED
Simona Halep reveals her doping suspension being cut short was “bigger than Grand Slams, bigger than No. 1”
Simona Halep Tennis controversies

Naomi Osaka’s love for hard courts brings best out of her

A two-time Australian Open champion and a two-time US Open champion, Naomi Osaka‘s love for hard courts is no secret. She expressed her love for the fast-paced court saying she felt like Sailor Moon (a character from a Japanese manga) after touching down on the surface.

Naomi-Osaka-hard-court
Naomi Osaka (Image via Vanity Fair)
As soon as my foot touched the hard court, I felt like Sailor Moon. Just transforming.
Naomi Osaka said (H/T: Tennis.com)

Osaka has done incredibly well in hard court tournaments so far this season. Despite returning to action after a break due to the birth of her first child, she has managed to put in some really good performances. The former World No. 1 reached the quarterfinals at the Qatar Open (WTA 1000) and also challenged Iga Swiatek in their second-round class at the Roland Garros.

With the 2024 US Open set to kick off in the last week of August, Osaka will be focused on perfecting her game before the season’s final Grand Slam.

In case you missed!