?It?s Important That the WTA Keeps Pushing New Faces? – Naomi Osaka

It is good to see Naomi Osaka smiling again. After disappointing results in the previous tournaments, the Japanese star is back to her best in Miami. Earlier on Monday, Osaka defeated Alison Riske to enter the quarterfinals of the Miami Open 2022. Moreover, she is looking in top form and is yet to drop a set in this tournament.

Further, Osaka had an interesting and important point to make during her post-match press conference.

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Naomi Osaka wants the WTA to promote the next-gen players

The 24-year-old felt that it is important to push the younger players into the sport. Speaking about tennis, she said, “For me, going back like way back to your last question, I think kids are the future. I think how they see you is very important because, without any role model or an idol, you don’t really know what you want to be, at least for me.”

Further, she added, “I think it’s important that the WTA keeps pushing new faces. Not new faces but at least promotes the younger players, not necessarily the top players all the time, but just players that did well, like, went to the quarters and is young or something like that.”

On her rise to the top, Osaka said, “I think it’s important that for me I came up on the Rising Stars. I know they don’t do that anymore, but I think things like that are really important. The ATP has the Next-Gen. It kind of like teaches them how to like navigate the ATP life, as well, I think, just to have that one big tournament.”

Concluding her point, she said, “So I think it would be cool if the WTA did that again just to promote the younger stars and have people backing them up.”

Osaka is all set to face Danielle Collins at Miami Open

The former World Number 1 will face the Australian Open runner-up, Danielle Collins in the quarterfinals of the 2022 Miami Open. Speaking about Collins, she said, “Yeah, I have played Collins before. I think she’s a really tough opponent. She’s been playing really well, though I don’t think it’s really a surprise. She’s very aggressive.”

Further, she added, “For me, I feel like I just need to somehow be in control at all times. I can’t let her push me back. But I’m sure Wim is going to give me like the whole computer analyzation type of thing, but right now my gut instinct thinking about the match is just to be as aggressive as I can and put the ball in at the same time.”

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It will be the third time that Naomi Osaka and Danielle Collins will be up against each other. On both the previous occasions, Osaka prevailed over Collins in straight sets. It remains to be seen if the American can overpower her Japanese opponent this time around.