US Open win over Serena Williams makes me feel different – Osaka
believes that her straight-set win over in the US Open final helped her gain confidence. Speaking to reporters after her win over Anastasija Sevastova at the Brisbane International, the Japanese player said: I feel like right now Im really confident in myself, and I feel like the off season training that Ive been doing is really paying off.
And Im not sure if I would have had the same feeling six months ago. Six months ago I didnt win the US Open. I was having a really bad clay season. So probably not. On her win over Sevastova, Osaka added: For me, I just really wanted to play this match knowing that I would have long rallies and knowing that she would be hitting tricky shots.
So for me, this match was really important because I think that I can handle power players pretty well. But for me it was always harder to hit against people like her, because I dont really know whats coming next.
So I think that this match was a good confidence booster. I felt pretty calm the entire match, except for like, you know, the end of the first set. Nobody saw that. But yeah, I mean, I think maybe a few months ago I wouldnt have been able to be that calm.
I think that that comes with experience, though, because I sort of know what could potentially come next. So Im not that scared or threatened. Yeah. ALSO READ: Rafael Nadal: Worse players than David Ferrer won a Grand Slam title
