Tennis

Naomi Osaka, the four-time Grand Slam champion, made a triumphant return to the Mutua Madrid Open, defeating Greet Minnen in straight sets to advance to the second round. Osaka, who had been sidelined for the 2023 season due to the birth of her daughter, displayed impressive form on her second clay-court match since 2022 Roland Garros.Despite her struggles on slower surfaces in the past, Osaka looked confident and determined against Minnen. She broke serve early in the first set and maintained her lead throughout, winning 6-4. In the second set, Osaka's dominance became even more evident as she won six consecutive games to seal the victory 6-1.Osaka's victory marks a significant step in her comeback from maternity leave. She has previously expressed her desire to become a more well-rounded player, capable of competing on all surfaces. Her performance in Madrid suggests that she is making progress towards that goal.In the second round, Osaka will face No. 15 seed Liudmila Samsonova, who received a bye. Samsonova is a formidable opponent, but Osaka will be confident after her impressive display against Minnen.Osaka's return to form is a welcome sight for tennis fans. Her unique style of play and captivating personality have made her one of the most popular players on tour. As she continues her comeback, she will undoubtedly be a contender for major titles in the future.

Reggie Bush, the former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL running back, is now a proud tennis dad. His daughter, Briseis, is a rising star in the sport, with aspirations of playing at Wimbledon.Briseis, 10, has been playing tennis since she was 5 and has already shown a natural talent. She competes in 10-and-under tournaments and has even received a special Naomi Barbie doll from her idol, Naomi Osaka.Reggie, who retired from the NFL in 2016, has become a dedicated tennis dad, supporting Briseis's dreams. He has even taken up the sport himself, becoming an excellent golfer in the process."I like doing tournaments just to get her feet wet, so she can see what the competition is like," said Reggie. "Practice is practice, but competing is a different thing. It's great, and I think it's good for the mind and good for the spirit, because you learn a lot about yourself in those moments."Briseis is taking a break from tournament play this summer to work on her serve with Los Angeles-based coach Cecil Mamiit. She is also inspired by Osaka, who she hopes to emulate one day."I like that it's competitive," she said about tennis, "and once you win, you're just like, 'Yes!'"Reggie is aware of the impact his celebrity status can have on Briseis's career, but he tries to stay out of her way during matches."The last thing I want to do is be a distraction for her," he said. "I try to remove myself from her vision, so that she's not looking at me after every good or bad point."Despite her father's legendary status, Briseis seems to be handling the pressure well. She is confident in her abilities and has even set her sights on coaching her father one day."He's actually getting better," she said. "I would like to coach him one day."

Naomi Osaka's return to clay courts proved short-lived as she bowed out in the first round of the Open Capfinances Rouen Métropole to Martina Trevisan, 6-4, 6-2. The former world No. 1, who had not played on clay since 2022, struggled to find her footing on the surface, ultimately succumbing to the Italian dirtballer's consistent play.Osaka's struggles on clay have been well-documented, with her decision to withdraw from the 2021 Roland Garros due to mental health concerns being a notable example. However, the 26-year-old has shown flashes of her top form on the surface, reaching the semifinals of the 2019 Stuttgart Open.In Rouen, Osaka began her match against Trevisan with an early exchange of breaks. However, the Italian quickly settled into the match, saving five break points and serving out the first set. Trevisan continued to dominate in the second set, breaking Osaka early and holding on to her serve to secure the victory.Osaka's defeat marks her 23rd loss in tour-level clay matches, with her lone semifinal appearance on the surface coming in Stuttgart in 2019. The result also highlights the challenges she faces in returning to her former dominance, particularly on clay.Despite the setback, Osaka remains optimistic about her comeback. She is scheduled to compete in the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix next week, where she will face a tougher field that includes world No. 1 Iga Swiatek.

Former US Open champion Emma Raducanu led Great Britain to a thrilling 3-1 victory over France in the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers, securing their place in the championship-deciding round. Despite battling injuries throughout the season, Raducanu showcased her resilience by defeating Diane Parry in a hard-fought three-set match.Japan also made history by reaching the finals for the first time, defeating Kazakhstan in Tokyo. Nao Hibino clinched the winning point with a hard-earned victory over Yulia Putintseva. Four-time major winner Naomi Osaka, who helped Japan take an early lead, sat out Saturday's action.Poland, led by world number one Iga Swiatek, cruised past Switzerland 2-0. Swiatek dominated her match against Celine Naef, putting her team on the brink of a sweep. Australia, under the guidance of new captain Samantha Stosur, also advanced to the finals with a convincing win over Mexico. Taylah Preston, just 18 years old, sealed the tie with a dominant performance.In Bratislava, 16-year-old Renata Jamrichova secured Slovakia's victory over Slovenia. The Australian Open junior champion displayed her talent with a straight-sets win. Ukraine, USA, Germany, and Belgium are also in contention for the remaining spots in the finals.The eight winning countries will join hosts Spain, defending champions Canada, 2023 runners-up Italy, and wild-card Czech Republic in the 12-team finals in Seville in November.

Former world number one Naomi Osaka has expressed her desire to compete in the upcoming Paris Olympics, scheduled for 2024. The four-time Grand Slam champion, who lit the cauldron at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Games in 2021, is eager to represent Japan once again on the Olympic stage.Osaka's participation in the Olympics is contingent on her receiving a spot from tennis chiefs. She may need to go through an appeals process after failing to make two mandatory appearances for Japan in the Billie Jean King Cup during the current Olympic cycle.Despite her absence from the Billie Jean King Cup, Osaka has been making a strong comeback to tennis after a 15-month maternity break. She has risen from world ranking 831 to 193 since her return late last year.Osaka's recent performances have been encouraging, with the 26-year-old reaching the quarter-finals in six tournaments. She is determined to improve her results and achieve a medal at the Paris Olympics."I would hope that I get to play," Osaka said. "And if I do play, I have high ambitions of myself and I hope that I can do really well and get a medal."Osaka's return to form has been marked by her aggressive style of play and powerful serve. She is known for her ability to hit winners from both sides of the court and has a strong mental game.If Osaka is granted a spot in the Paris Olympics, she will be a formidable opponent for her rivals. Her experience, talent, and determination make her a contender for a medal.

Naomi Osaka, the former world No. 1 tennis star, has become a fashion icon known for her stylish on-court outfits. In a recent Instagram video, she shared her latest shopping finds with her followers, revealing the secrets behind her signature looks.Osaka emphasized that the video was not sponsored, showcasing a range of luxury pieces from various brands. She tried on platform sandals from Melitta Baumeister, a mohair baseball cap from Marni, a mesh camo and shark print hoodie from BAPE, and a jacket by Issey Miyake. The highlight of the haul was a smiley face jacket by Kapital, which Osaka exclaimed was "the star of the show."Osaka also received a one-of-a-kind leather jacket by Jeff Hamilton ahead of the Miami Open. Despite her busy schedule, she promised to play a full schedule upon her return from maternity leave. Her impressive performance during the Sunshine Swing included reaching the third round at both Indian Wells and Miami, defeating seeded players Liudmila Samsonova and Elina Svitolina.Osaka is set to make her clay-court debut at the Open Capfinances Rouen Métropole with a wildcard. The WTA 250 event begins on April 15. Her return to tennis has been marked by both stylish fashion and strong performances on the court.

Naomi Osaka, the former world No. 1 and four-time Grand Slam champion, has expressed optimism for her future after three months of her comeback to professional tennis. In a social media post, Osaka acknowledged her recent loss but expressed gratitude for the support and excitement for what lies ahead.Since her return, Osaka has compiled a 7-6 record in six tournaments, reaching the third round at both Indian Wells and Miami. Her victory over Elina Svitolina in Miami was a significant milestone, with Osaka describing it as "definitely the best match I've played so far."Despite her progress, Osaka remains determined to improve her performance. "I definitely do think it was one of my best matches, if not the best match," she said, "but I also want myself to play better and better every match."Osaka's next challenge will be the clay and grass surfaces, where she has historically faced difficulties. She has accepted a wild card to the WTA 250 event in Rouen, France, which begins on April 15. This tournament will mark her first clay-court action since Roland Garros in 2022.Osaka acknowledges the challenges of playing on clay but remains optimistic. "It's different but fun, let's see what happens," she wrote.Having started the season unranked after her maternity leave, Osaka is projected to return to the Top 200 in the latest WTA rankings. Her determination and positive outlook suggest that she is poised for a strong comeback in the coming months.

Naomi Osaka's resurgence continued at the Miami Open on Saturday as she dispatched Elina Svitolina in straight sets, 6-2, 7-6 (5). The former world No. 1 displayed her best tennis of the year, showcasing her power and precision.Osaka, who is making her return from maternity leave, has been steadily improving with each match. She credited her coach, Wim Fissette, for helping her regain her form. "I'm definitely feeling more confident and comfortable on the court," Osaka said. "I'm just trying to take it one match at a time and see how far I can go."Against Svitolina, Osaka's strategy was clear: dictate the rallies and go for winners. She used her powerful serve and groundstrokes to keep Svitolina on the defensive. The Ukrainian fought back in the second set, but Osaka remained composed and closed out the match in a tiebreak.Osaka's victory sets up a fourth-round clash with Caroline Garcia, who she has faced three times this year. Osaka leads their head-to-head 2-1, but Garcia won their most recent encounter at the Australian Open."She's an amazing player," Osaka said of Garcia. "Every match we play is really difficult. It's just going to be interesting playing on these courts because I really like these hard courts."Osaka's performance in Miami is a promising sign for her return to the top of the women's game. She is clearly enjoying herself on the court and is playing with a renewed sense of purpose. If she can continue to improve, she will be a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming Grand Slams.

Naomi Osaka's return to the Indian Wells Tennis Garden after giving birth to her daughter Shai was marked by a fighting spirit, despite a disappointing loss to Elise Mertens in the second round. Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, praised her own effort and determination, even though she fell short of victory."I wanted to win more slams. That's why I came back," Osaka said in her post-match press conference. "But I think I determine success right now just by the effort that I put in, and I feel like today I don't think I played well at all, but I tried every point."Osaka's slow start against Mertens, a former Australian Open semifinalist, put her on the back foot early on. However, she showed resilience by fighting back and winning four consecutive games. Mertens, known for her consistent play, kept Osaka off-balance throughout the match, ending up with 25 unforced errors to 20 winners.Despite the loss, Osaka remained positive, noting her improvement since her previous tournament appearance in Doha. "I think I fought a lot harder, or I tried to fight a lot harder and find solutions to problems that were in front of me," she said.Osaka's experience as a former world No. 1 is helping her in her return from maternity leave. "I feel like I should be able to get to that level. Obviously—well, not obviously, but I feel like I've done it once before, so I should be able to do it again," she said.Looking ahead, Osaka is eager to return to the Miami Open, where she finished runner-up in 2022. "I haven't eaten Haitian food in, like, three years, so I'm very excited to go back to Miami," she said.