Tokyo: Naomi Osaka said he felt fresh and ready to play, after the dominant 6-1 6-4 victory over Zheng Saisai in China in the opening round of the Tokyo match – his first victory since taking a mental health break two months ago.
The four-time Japanese Grand Slam champion did not play a competitive match since the French Open in May, when he resigned after being fined for missing a post-match press conference for mandatory health reasons.
He was then pulled out of Wimbledon.
Osaka said he appreciated taking time far from the court before the match in Tokyo, where he was chosen to turn on the Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremony on Friday night.
“More than anything, I just focused on playing tennis,” he said in his first appearance in front of the media in more than two months.
“Play Olympics has been my dream since I was little, so I felt the rest I took was needed.
But I feel definitely a little fresh and happy again.” Back Osaka to the game was praised by the Japanese public, which showered him with praise following his victory.
“(I admire) the strong nature.
Not only when he plays, but he has his own extraordinary principle,” Yoshihiro Ohba’s 63-year-old office worker said.
Osaka in an unpleasant form against Zheng ranked 52nd, racing through the first set in just 32 minutes.
In the second set, this 23-year-old child received another initial break but wasted two match points on the Chinese player’s offerings at 5-3.
Osaka continued to serve matches with love.