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Japan's Naomi Osaka says she is 'at peace' with herself ahead of first match since Australian Open exit

Naomi Osaka will return to Indian Wells with renewed peace and focus after a difficult 2021 season and an early at the Australian Open. The four-time Grand Slam champion, who broke into the top ten of the WTA rankings with her first career title at Indian Wells in 2018, will face America’s Sloane Stephens in a first-round match on the prestigious hardcourts of the California desert. Ad/> The 24-year-old is set to take to the court for the first time since January, where she lost in the third round of the Australian Open to America’s Amanda Anisimova, a loss Osaka says helped reframe her thinking.

Naomi Osaka at peace with herself ahead of Indian Wells tournament

Naomi Osaka said she had a new perspective on tennis after taking a break from the sport last year to prioritise her mental health and is now focused on "trying hard and having fun" at Indian Wells. Osaka announced the hiatus after she suffered an emotional loss in the third round of the U.S. Open to Leylah Fernandez in September, and it was unclear when she would play again. "I've learned to enjoy my time more," she told reporters on Wednesday on the eve of her first round showdown with Sloane Stephens. "This moment in my life, playing tennis, I've trained my entire life for it. But when I'm 70, it will probably be a small chapter for me. So I have to enjoy it while I still can. "I'm just trying to appreciate every tournament." Osaka fell in the third round of the Australian Open to Amanda Anisimova but said she felt good about her effort and how she coped with the defeat. "I felt the difference in Australia. When I played my last match against Amanda, I left the court thinking I did my best, and I had match points."

'At peace' Osaka readies for Indian Wells challenge

Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka returns to Indian Wells, scene of her breakthrough triumph in 2018, with a new outlook on a tennis career plunged into turmoil in 2021.

"At Peace" Naomi Osaka Readies For Indian Wells Challenge

Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka returns to Indian Wells, scene of her breakthrough triumph in 2018, with a new outlook on a tennis career plunged into turmoil in 2021. The Japanese star will take the court for the first time since a third-round exit in her Australian Open title defense in January when she takes on another former major winner in Sloane Stephens in a first-round match at the prestigious hardcourt tournament in the California desert.

Tennis-Osaka at peace with herself ahead of Indian Wells tournament

By Rory Carroll

Osaka at peace with herself ahead of Indian Wells tournament

INDIAN WELLS : Naomi Osaka said she had a new perspective on tennis after taking a break from the sport last year to prioritise her mental health and is now focused on "trying hard and having fun" at Indian Wells.

Kristie Ahn news: American announces retirement aged 29

American tennis player Kristie Ahn recently announced that she is retiring from professional tennis, aged 29.

Heather Watson, Katie Boulter, Harriet Dart win Indian Wells qualifiers, Emma Raducanu could face Dayana Yastremska

British trio Heather Watson, Katie Boulter and Harriet Dart all won their opening qualifying matches at Indian Wells. British No.2 Watson, who made the last 16 of the WTA 1000 tournament in 2015, beat Rebeka Masarova 7-5 6-2 and will next face Mai Hontama for a place in the main draw. Ad/> Boulter battled to a 6-7(8) 6-4 6-4 win over sixth seed Xinyu Wang while Dart won 6-1 7-5 against Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove.

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Sloane Stephens Sport News

Japan's Naomi Osaka says she is 'at peace' with herself ahead of first match since Australian Open exit

Naomi Osaka at peace with herself ahead of Indian Wells tournament

'At peace' Osaka readies for Indian Wells challenge

"At Peace" Naomi Osaka Readies For Indian Wells Challenge

Tennis-Osaka at peace with herself ahead of Indian Wells tournament

Osaka at peace with herself ahead of Indian Wells tournament

Kristie Ahn news: American announces retirement aged 29

Heather Watson, Katie Boulter, Harriet Dart win Indian Wells qualifiers, Emma Raducanu could face Dayana Yastremska