Naomi Osaka has advanced to the fourth round at Indian Wells after defeating Camila Osorio on Sunday. The Japanese completed the match in three sets, dropping the second but effectively bouncing back in the third.
Later, during the on-court interview, Osaka sent a rare message to her mother, Tamaki, on International Women’s Day when the presenters asked the former World No. 1 who she looked up to most in her life.
“For me, my mom. My mom is a really important figure in my life. I have grown up just seeing her do so many amazing things, and yeah, she is the first role model for me. So, I guess I want to thank her a lot,” Osaka said.
After her second-round win, Osaka had already achieved her goals at Indian Wells and expressed her pleasure at the positive momentum generated at the WTA 1000 event, hoping to go the distance at the end of the two-week tournament.
“I was just really disappointed in myself, and then ironically, like, we were training, and then I injured myself, like I did another injury. So I just felt, like, hopefully that’s enough injuries for the whole year,” Osaka said.
“But yeah, I’m just grateful to be out here and be playing. Last year, I didn’t do too well here, so I think I have already exceeded the previous year. So I just hope that I can keep going,” she added.
Naomi Osaka Sets Up Only Her 2nd Meeting With Aryna Sabalenka At Indian Wells
Naomi Osaka is now set to face World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the fourth round of Indian Wells on Monday. This will be only the second meeting between two titans of women’s tennis.
Their previous meeting was in the fourth round of the 2018 US Open, where the Japanese star defeated the Belarusian in three sets on her way to her first Grand Slam title.
Sabalenka had cruised to the round of 16 after dispatching Jaqueline Cristian in straight sets in the third round on Saturday. It will be an intriguing contest between Osaka and Sabalenka on Monday night.
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