Naomi Osaka 'at peace' with herself ahead of Indian Wells after difficult 2021

Naomi Osaka will play her first competitive tennis match since January tonight when she returns to the court at Indian Wells –– where her career first started off.

The Japanese star’s breakthrough triumph came at Indian Wells back in 2018 and hit an almost immediate upward trajectory.

After winning four Grand Slams in three years, Osaka was ranked as one of the best in the world, but 2021 saw her career take an unexpected turn.

All players are forced to endure a dip in their form at some point or another, but Osaka experienced more of a plummet than most, starting at Roland-Garros.

The 24-year-old stated she would not be fulfilling media duties after opening up about her mental struggles. Osaka took a stand against press conferences and the impact they have on players as a way to raise awareness of mental health issues, but she was met with the threat of a hefty fine and expulsion from the tournament.

The Japanese star then took it upon herself to withdraw from the French Open. Between then and her upcoming Indian Wells opener, Osaka competed in just five tennis tournaments, including the Tokyo Olympics, where she lit the cauldron for her country.

Her best finish saw her reach the quarter-finals of the Melbourne Summer Set but she withdrew due to injury.

At both the US and Australian Open, Osaka failed to make it past the Round of 32 and was unable to defend her title in Melbourne.

But despite a difficult year, she is ready to make her return to the court and has admitted she has experienced a change in mindset since things started to unravel.

“Honestly, I feel like I’m at peace with myself, which I think is a great feeling to have as a person,” Osaka admitted. “For me, the biggest focus this year is, of course, I want