Naomi Osaka is certainly very determined to return to her old level as soon as possible as the former world No. 1 was spotted pulling off and writing notes during a Miami Open match against Caroline Garcia.
On Sunday, four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka saw her Miami run end in the third round after former world No. 4 Garcia edged her out in two tight sets 7-6 (4) 7-5.
As the result suggests, it was a very tight match that was decided by just a couple of points in the key moments. Osaka, now ranked at No. 229 in the world, had her chances in both sets but failed to capitalize on them.
During the second set, the four-time Grand Slam champion seemingly wasn’t happy with something that she was doing on the court as the cameras caught her taking notes during a changeover.
Sometimes you just gotta journal it out ✍️@naomiosaka | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/5QpIWTsVtf
— wta (@WTA) March 24, 2024
Osaka had her chances against Garcia
After saving two consecutive break points in the fourth game, Osaka also had her first break point of the match in the fifth game but didn’t convert. Down 4-5 and saving to stay in the first set, Osaka saved a set point to tie the opener to five games apiece.
Naomi Osaka© Getty Images Sport – Brennan Asplen
Then, Osaka had her second break point of the match in the 11th game but again didn’t realize it. In the 12th game, the Japanese faced two set points but managed to save them and make the set be decided in a tie-break.
After saving a total of three set points but also not converting any of her three break point chances, Osaka made a slow start to the tie-break as Garcia opened a 6-2 lead before sealing the first set after converting her sixth set point.
Midway through the second set, finally the first break was seen when Osaka broke Garcia to go 4-2 up. But just after Osaka’s first break was seen, shortly after Garcia’s first breaks were also seen as the Frenchwoman broke the Japanese in the seventh and 11th games to overturn the second-set deficit and escape with a two-set win.
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