Naomi Osaka of Japan returns a shot in opposition to Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan throughout their Billie Jean King Cup tennis match in Tokyo, on April 12, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP
Former world primary Naomi Osaka stated Saturday that she “would love to play” at this 12 months’s Paris Olympics if she is granted a spot by tennis chiefs.
The four-time Grand Slam champion might must undergo an appeals course of to assert a spot after failing to make a compulsory two appearances for Japan within the Billie Jean King Cup throughout the present Olympic cycle.
Osaka lit the cauldron on the opening ceremony of the Covid-delayed Tokyo Games in 2021, the place she went on to make the third spherical.
She has since change into a mom, returning to tennis late final 12 months after a 15-month maternity break.
She instructed reporters in Tokyo after serving to Japan qualify for the BJK Cup finals that she is going to play in Paris “if they let me”.
“Growing up watching the Olympics on TV, I felt that it was a celebration of sport,” she stated.
“I thought it brought everyone together and just to be able to be an athlete there and interact with other athletes is one of the funnest things that I’ve ever done.”
The 26-year-old stated she “would hope that I get to play” on the Games.
“And if I do play, I have high ambitions of myself and I hope that I can do really well and get a medal,” she stated.
Osaka’s world rating has risen from 831 to 193 since she started her comeback, though she has not gone past the quarter-finals in six tournaments.
She stated she intends to play “a full clay court season and probably a full grass court season” over the approaching months.
“I would hope that I do really well on one of the clay court tournaments and also grass,” she stated.
“Honestly, I feel like I’ve improved every match so I think that is possible for me.”
Osaka made just one look for Japan as they beat Kazakhstan 3-1 to qualify for the BJK Cup finals for the primary time.
She beat Yulia Putintseva 6-2, 7-6 (7/5), hitting 15 aces.
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Source: www.thehindu.com
