Naomi Osaka’s tough luck with draws continues as the four-time Grand Slam champion is set to meet Ons Jabeur in her opener at a WTA 1000 tournament in Toronto.
After giving birth and missing last year’s National Bank Open, 26-year-old Osaka is returning to Toronto this year. But she definitely won’t have an easy start to her opening hard-court tournament this summer as three-time Grand Slam finalist Jabeur is definitely one of the trickiest first-round matchups she could have gotten.
However, it will be a great thing for the tournament organizers and fans as it will highlight first-round action in Toronto but also bring just a second-ever meeting between Osaka and Jabeur. In the past, Osaka, 26, beat 29-year-old Jabeur en route to winning her last title at the 2021 Australian Open.
Naomi Osaka© Getty Images Sport – Clive Brunskill
What Osaka said about facing the top players just a week ago?
After drawing three-time Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber in the Paris Olympics first round, former world No. 1 Osaka said she probably needed to “relearn” hot to play and beat the best in the game again.
“I guess I need to learn how to win again. Maybe that’s something I forgot how to do. Maybe I have to keep playing matches against really good players to relearn that,” Osaka said.
Midway through the second set, Osaka sustained a leg injury and she received some treatment but also took a painkiller.
“I don’t know, because I took a painkiller, so when it wears off, I’ll let you know. It felt like I hyperextended (it) a little bit. I felt a pinch while I was playing, but I hope I’m still pretty young, so maybe it won’t be that bad,” Osaka said after the Kerber loss.
However, since Osaka came to Toronto it is a big indication that everything is fine with her leg.
In 2019, Osaka reached the Toronto quarterfinal before losing to Serena Williams. To this day, that’s Osaka’s best result at the National Bank Open.