Tennis News Today: After being heckled at Indian Wells earlier this month, Naomi Osaka said she has begun talking to a therapist as she made a winning return to the court on Wednesday.
The four-time Grand Slam champion defeated Astra Sharma in straight sets at the Miami Open, making her first appearance since losing in the second round to Veronika Kudermetova at the BNP Paribas Masters in California, during which a spectator appeared to yell “Naomi, you suck.”
“I’m not sure whether I’m allowed to disclose this, but after Indian Wells, I finally started talking to a therapist,” Osaka told reporters. “After the French Open, it only took about a year.”
“She kind of told me strategies and stuff. I realise how helpful it is. I’m glad that I have people around me who told me to, like, go in that direction.
“But, yeah, I was basically just remembering all the things that she told me to do, just to take deep breaths and reset myself when I need to.”
Last year, Osaka pulled out of the French Open after refusing to speak to the media about her mental health, revealing she had been suffering from long bouts of depression.
After losing in the third round of the US Open to eventual runner-up Leylah Fernandez, the 24-year-old missed Wimbledon later in the summer before returning to compete in the Tokyo Olympics. She then announced her retirement from tennis after losing to eventual runner-up Leylah Fernandez in the third round.
When asked why she decided to see a therapist, she said, “Honestly, because my sister looked extremely concerned for me.”
“I’m not sure.” Because I tend to internalise things and want to accomplish everything by myself, I feel like I’ve been trying a lot of various things.”
On Wednesday, Osaka said that the incident at Indian Wells was the first occasion she believes she has ever been heckled in her career, and that meeting with a therapist had already helped her prepare for a similar circumstance in the future.
“I’ve kind of reflected on the situation at Indian Wells for myself.” “I’ve never been heckled,” she admitted. “I’ve been booed, but not in the sense of a straight yell-out. It moved me out of my comfort zone.
“I feel like I’m prepared for it now. I was kind of bracing myself before the match to just know that’s a thing that could happen now. I think I just needed to change my mindset a little.”
In the second round, Osaka will meet Angelique Kerber of Germany in Miami.
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