Naomi Osaka eyes another rankings boost in Indian Wells as she explains why she is happy to ‘clock out’

Naomi Osaka is experiencing a lot of “new feelings” as she is adapting to being a mother who is competing at the highest level in tennis, but the former world No 1 is determined to enjoy every minute of the journey.

Playing in only her fifth tournament since giving birth to daughter Shai in July last year, Osaka notched up her fourth win of the 2024 season as she defeated Sara Errani 6-3, 6-1 in the first round of the Indian Wells Open.

The four-time Grand Slam winner’s latest victory has seen her rise another 36 places in the Live Rankings to No 251, not bad for someone who started the year at No 833 in the WTA Rankings due to maternity leave.

A tougher assignment awaits Osaka in the second round as she will face 14th seed Liudmila Samsonova, but victory could see her jump to as high as No 227 while a run to the last 16 will see her surge into the top 200.

The 26-year-old, though, knows it is all part of the journey.

“I have to learn and I have to play a lot more matches. I think right now I’m in pretty good shape but where I want to be is much higher,” she told Tennis Channel.

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She admitted the first few months back on the WTA Tour have not been easy as she suffered first-round defeats at the Australian Open and at the Abu Dhabi Open before coming good in Qatar.

“I have been fortunate enough to play against really good players and I think I’ve played really good matches against them,” she said. “A part of me is really hard on myself for not winning those matches but another part is telling myself to give some grace. It takes time, I can’t immediately beat the best players in the world.”

After travelling to Australia and the Middle East without baby Shai, Osaka can finally experience what it is like to have her daughter with her when she is competing as she lives in California and can go home every night.

“It’s exciting [being able to have the baby with me]. Honestly, the happiest moments of my day are to come back [home] to see her having fun,” she said.

“I feel like I clock out in a way when I get home because I am immediately not an athlete, I’m her mom. It’s a new feeling, but I enjoy it a lot.”

The Japanese star added: “It makes me feel like every minute is very important and I have to make the most of the time that I do have and value the seconds more.”