Canadian Open: Naomi Osaka's Confidence Growing After Triumph Over Ons Jabeur

The four-time grand slam champion defeated world number 16 Jabeur 6-3 6-1 in her first-round match in Toronto.

Osaka’s victory follows her early exit in the Olympics where she lost in straight sets to Germany’s Angelique Kerber last month at Roland-Garros.

Away from the clay courts, the Japanese player felt the surface and her opponent brought out the best in her in Canada.

“Everyone knows I really love hard court,” said Osaka. “So I don’t know, I wasn’t really thinking too much.

"It felt very instinctual and honestly when I play the best players like Ons I tend to play better."

The former world number one returned to tennis earlier this year after giving birth to a daughter in July 2023.

Now, Osaka believes she is beginning to build momentum again after her hiatus.

“I think if you’ve been following my journey a little, I go through mountains and hills. But now I’m feeling quite confident in myself as a person and a player and I think that showed a little,” she explained.

“Hopefully I can continue to play a lot more matches, but I think I just really love playing tennis and it’s been an honour to play such a great match in front of everyone.”