Naomi Osaka shares the ‘realization’ she’s had which she thinks is ‘strange’ before her match with Emma Raducanu

Naomi Osaka is back on a hard court and back to winning ways after her disappointing third round exit at Wimbledon.

Osaka loved seeing Venus Williams play in Washington, with the latter returning to tennis after a 16-month absence.

She’s into the second round of the Washington Open at the age of 45, with Osaka also into round two of the WTA 500 event.

Osaka plays Emma Raducanu next, having beaten Yulia Putintseva 6-2, 7-5 in her first match since Wimbledon.

Former world number one Osaka was unhappy after her Wimbledon exit, but is now back to winning ways as the build-up to the US Open begins.

Photo by Robert Prange/Getty ImagesNaomi Osaka shares ‘strange’ realisation before playing Emma Raducanu

Sharing insight into her time in Washington so far and her thoughts on returning to hard courts, Osaka told reporters: “Yeah, it’s been really nice.

“Honestly, I think, well, a little ironically now, I feel like I learned a lot of lessons from grass and clay that I am able to apply now.

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“I think from grass especially my serve, I’ve been able to do a couple of things. Really happy about that, and of course really happy to be back on hard.”

Discussing that part of her game further, she added: “Just, I guess, being a little bit more tactical about where I place my serve or how I toss and things like that.”

Photo by Tim Clayton/Getty Images

And when asked if playing on hard courts feels like ‘coming home’, she responded: “You know, honestly, yes.

“But I also, like, I had a realization the other day that I have to be a little bit more confident in myself while also not putting pressure on myself, so it’s a little strange.

“But I think I’m the type of person that I always feel like everyone else is really good, and sometimes that puts a lot of doubt in myself.

“But the other day I was trying to tell myself that I won a couple of slams on this surface for a reason, so I need to believe in myself a lot more. Yeah, I guess I’m trying to see where that mentality takes me.”

What is Naomi Osaka’s Grand Slam history on hard courts?

Osaka has been through a tricky time on the court, but she should definitely be able to take some confidence from her hard-court history.

She made it to the very top of the world rankings back in 2019, helped by her stunning Grand Slam success in and around that time.

READ MORE: Emma Raducanu says how she feels about having to play against Naomi Osaka for the first ever time at the Washington Open

Osaka beat legendary figure Serena Williams in the 2018 US Open final for her maiden Grand Slam success, before defeating Petra Kvitova at the 2019 Australian Open.

Another US Open title arrived in 2020 thanks to her final win over Victoria Azarenka, with the 2021 Australian Open title going her way after a final victory against Jennifer Brady.

ResultYearTournamentSurfaceOpponentScoreWin2018US OpenHardSerena Williams6–2, 6–4Win2019Australian OpenHardPetra Kvitova7–6(7–2), 5–7, 6–4Win2020US OpenHardVictoria Azarenka1–6, 6–3, 6–3Win2021Australian OpenHardJennifer Brady6–4, 6–3Naomi Osaka Grand Slam finals

All four of her titles have, therefore, arrived on hard courts, while she’s managed to win all four of her Grand Slam finals.

She does, however, now face a very tricky task at the Washington Open, with British number one Raducanu certain to provide a real challenge.