N. OSAKA/D. Shnaider
6-1, 6-2
THE MODERATOR: Questions.
Q. Your thoughts on today's match?
NAOMI OSAKA: I mean, honestly for me, it was pretty straightforward in terms of, like, I just wanted to really play point by point. Honestly, I didn't know what the score was until the final game. I just tried to keep everything in my head.
Q. Is that typical that you would do that, not know the score?
NAOMI OSAKA: When I'm playing really good, yeah. I don't know. Like for me, I have kind of lost that a little bit sometimes. Like I would be so caught up in wanting to win. That's for me the biggest mistake I made when I played in Madrid my last match there.
I just really wanted to focus more on, like, not getting upset and trying to turn it around quickly.
Q. These two performances, your last match and this match, today a little bit heavier, wet, rainy conditions, how much does being able to play well on this surface do for your confidence?
NAOMI OSAKA: Honestly, I don't know. Like, I don't know if it's playing well for me. I just really wanted to move well. I think obviously on clay that helps out a lot, just getting an extra ball back.
I think going into the French Open it will help me out a lot. As of right now, I don't know because I've never gone really, really far on a clay tournament. I hope hopefully this year I might.
Q. I think it's Iga next.
NAOMI OSAKA: Oh, my God. Sorry. Damn (laughter).
Q. We remember that match a couple years ago. What do you make of that challenge?
NAOMI OSAKA: Life is a little cruel. Damn. Sabalenka, now Iga (laughter).
I don't know. I think obviously for me that's where I show up. I think even though it hasn't been in my favor the last couple of times, for me those matches are the most fun. I'm excited at the thought.
I don't know, it just makes me smile.
Q. How much, despite the result, is that a net positive (indiscernible), give you confidence?
NAOMI OSAKA: It definitely gives me confidence because I think about the things I did wrong and I was able to go toe to toe with her until a certain point.
Yeah, it does give me a lot of confidence. It lets me know that my tennis is there. Hopefully my fitness is there, as well.
Q. When you talk about moving well on this surface, what does that mean to you?
NAOMI OSAKA: For me, I felt stuck during the Sunshine Swing. I would move, they would hit the ball, I felt very flat-footed. After that I took a little bit of a break just to focus on my movement and my fitness. For me that just means feeling a little bit more alert and jumpy.
Q. How much with clay is it about playing your natural game, adapting to the surface? When do you think you're at your best on clay?
NAOMI OSAKA: Honestly I think now with Tomasz, we're not trying to change too much. Obviously make smart decisions. I don't really know what my game is on hard court compared to here that much differently. I feel the points are longer here. Overall everyone's just trying... Well, I'm just trying to be aggressive but smart.
Q. There have been times in the past, depending on the season, where you go into the clay court season, sometimes you're excited for the challenge of it, there are other times, I don't want to do this right now. Where on that scale are you this year on the clay?
NAOMI OSAKA: For me, I feel like I'm accepting the challenge, but I'm also knowing that I should be able to play well here. Then also I have Tomasz. This is our first clay swing. Just trying to, like, take everything in but also know I'm a veteran, so it's not like I should be new at this.
Yeah, hopefully have a little bit of experience to go further.
Q. Has he been able to tell you anything that really not necessarily blew your mind but in terms of playing on this surface that's really helped you?
NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, honestly he's kind of told me not to overthink. For me, obviously I play really well on hard court. Coming into different surfaces I feel like I always overthink. I feel like everyone knows something that I don't.
Sometimes it's about scrapping and having these tough matches. I look around, and I'm looking at scores, and it seems like everyone is having a three-setter.
Q. You mentioned about getting into the state where you don't know what the score is, you just play. Is that something that just happens or can you train yourself to be able to get into that state?
NAOMI OSAKA: Honestly, that's something that I had to remember, that's what I used to do.
It's funny 'cause I was talking to Taylor in Australia this year. She told me before she started talking to me she thought I was a robot that just hit my leg, in the matches I hit my leg and stuff. She was like, I just thought you were a depressed robot. That's what she called me.
Then I remembered I had specific routines I used to do. I tried to tap into a couple of those. It got my rhythm going.
Q. With matches like Iga two years ago, are you someone who thinks about big matches you played before or are you able to forget about them?
NAOMI OSAKA: I mean, I remember them and I also forget them. I think tennis is an amazing sport. We get to play tournaments almost every week. We get to try to improve and challenge ourselves.
Also at the same time I do like thinking about that match because for me, even though I didn't win, it was like a check, you know? I think that was my first big match after pregnancy. To challenge her on one of her best, or her best surface, was really cool.
Q. Made you believe you sort of belonged?
NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah.
Q. Vis-à-vis Iga or with respect to the surface?
NAOMI OSAKA: Both. I think she was the first top player I played. Just I've always had a little bit of hardships on this surface. So to play the best player on her best surface and come really close, it meant a lot to me.
Q. You started your week in New York. How important is it for you to do things that make you happy and help your tennis? Does it help your tennis?
NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, I mean, I think for me it does help my tennis. I know some people might not think that way. They say you shouldn't distract yourself. For me I think it's important to have a life outside of tennis. Especially now I have my daughter.
I just want to try new things and experience things and eventually build something for her that she can inherit one day. I know that's not going to be tennis just because she'd have to train so hard. You know it's not guaranteed that you'll be an amazing tennis player, so...
Q. What it's like knowing the things you do will affect someone else in the future?
NAOMI OSAKA: I mean, it makes me really think about my actions. Then also just realize, like, you're not going to be here forever.
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