WATCH: Naomi Osaka breaks into tears as massive crowd support at the Indian Wells spurs emotional reaction

Japanese sensation Naomi Osaka has now registered her first top-15 win of 2024.

WATCH: Naomi Osaka breaks into tears as massive crowd support at the Indian Wells spurs emotional reaction

Naomi Osaka broke into tears after her win (via Imago and Instagram)

Returning sensation Naomi Osaka continued her great run at the Indian Wells as she emerged victorious in her recent outing. Returning from a mental health break, followed by a pregnancy break, the Japanese pro tried to make her return worthwhile right from the start of 2024. 

After a couple of failed tournaments, the 2-time Australian Open winner started to improve, as she had a decent run at the Qatar Open. She reached the quarter-finals of the same while carrying forward the momentum into the Indian Wells as well. 

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After a thumping first-round victory against Sara Errani, the Japanese was up against a tough opponent (Liudmila Samsonova) in the second round. This did not stop her from playing at her best, as she registered another second-round victory. 

FS Video

Thrilled by this win, Osaka broke down during the post-match interview while thanking the crowd. She expressed her gratitude towards the fans for supporting her and letting her grow in her own time. 

Thank you for supporting me throughout the years and letting me grow up on my own time and it's really nice to be back so thank you.
An emotional Osaka said in the post-match interview 

Osaka will now face an in-form Elise Mertens for a chance into the top 16 of the Indian wells, as she aims to improve herself and get better before the next Grand Slam. 

Naomi Osaka beat Liudmila Samsonova to register her first top-15 win in over two years

Naomi Osaka, the returning champion, was rather disappointed by her performance at the start of the year. However, with more matches, the 4-time Grand Slam winner gained momentum continuing her fine form. 

Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka (via Imago)

Recently, she beat No.14 seed Liudmila Samsonova at the Indian Wells second round to register her first top-15 win in over two years. In a terrific all-round showing, the Japanese emerged victorious 7-5,6-3 to register another second-round win. This is indeed a huge milestone for Osaka, who is aiming at improving herself with every match. 

In the last tournament, she beat the No.15 seed Caroline Garcia in an exciting clash and progressed from there, making it until the quarterfinals. Now, she has made her way into the third round of the tournament and will look forward to upstaging Elise Mertens for the spot in the last 16. 

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