Naomi Osaka sets ambitious world ranking target after Miami Open loss
Naomi Osaka has set an ambitious world ranking target after losing the Miami Open final to Iga Świątek.
Świątek defeated Osaka 6-4, 6-0 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, earning her third consecutive WTA 1000 title.
The 20-year-old joins just Serena Williams and Caroline Wozniacki as the only players to win three successive WTA 1000 titles in a single year.
She also is one of only four female tennis players to win the ‘Sunshine Double’ – Indian Wells and the Miami Open – alongside Stefi Graf, Kim Clijsters, and Victoria Azarenka.
Świątek has been in scintillating form in 2022, and she has now risen up to world number one following Ashleigh Barty’s retirement.
Her year so far is in contrast to Naomi Osaka’s, who has been inconsistent since returning to the court after a four month break.
The Japanese star stepped away from tennis after crashing out of the US Open in the third round in September, citing mental health struggles. As a result, she fell down the WTA rankings and now sits at world number 77.
The moment @iga_swiatek won the Sunshine Double!