Naomi Osaka admits what she got wrong about her training after making her comeback to tennis

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Naomi Osaka says she is now training in a way that is enabling her to stay injury-free.

In her first match at Wimbledon since 2019, the Japanese star claimed a tight three-set win over Diane Parry and registered her first victory at SW19 since 2018.

The 27-year-old is battling to rediscover her best form following a return to tennis after having her baby at the start of the season.

Grass has never been the former World number one’s strongest surface, but her goal is to improve her level and she is certainly going in the right direction at the All-England Club.

What has Naomi Osaka said about her new training regime?

Before her comeback in January 2024, Osaka had not played since September 2022, 16 months in total.

Following her pregnancy and the subsequent changes to her body, the four-time Grand Slam had to make some adjustments to her way of training.

However, this is not something Osaka initially thought she would have to do but now she has, she is seeing the results.

“It’s funny because when I was just coming back from pregnancy, I was thinking that I was going to train the exact same way and I was going to play the exact same way,” she said after defeating Parry 6-1, 1-6, 6-4. 

“I feel like as an overall athlete, I might be a little bit better now just because back then I would get injured, some parts of my body would be hurting. Now, the way that I train, I don’t have pain anymore.”

What is Naomi Osaka’s win-loss record since returning to tennis after pregnancy?

Osaka has played in 14 tournaments since returning to the tour at the start of the year after giving birth to her daughter Shai in July 2023.

She has claimed 16 victories during that time, but the player has yet to experience the thrill of winning a tournament once again.

But Osaka, who has suffered 12 losses in 2024, is doing all the right things to make that happen and she is pleased with how her game has developed.

“Honestly, the way that I want to play now is an evolution of how I played before,” she added. “I know I would need the results to back it up, but I think certain aspects of my game are better. I guess I just need to put the pieces together.”