Osaka: When I think of Svitolina, I think of her as a fighter. I see her as an amazing tennis player

Former world number one Naomi Osakabeating the Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto (2:0), became the rival of the Ukrainian Elina Svitolina in the second round of the tournament WTA 1000 in Miami (USA).

The 26-year-old Japanese woman, who recently returned to the tour after a break due to the birth of a child, shared her expectations from the match with the strongest Ukrainian tennis player.

“Does Svitolina inspire me? Yes, definitely. I remember watching her play at Wimbledon when I was pregnant and thinking that one day I want to be there too. I think she’s always been a great player, so it’s no surprise to me that she’s back in the top 20. I think that’s where she belongs.”

“When I think of Svitolina, I think of her as a fighter. It seems to me that she is one of those players who will never give up a single ball for nothing. Obviously, that’s why she is where she is now. I also think it’s incredible for her to have a baby and already be doing so well and winning so many matches.”

“When I think about her, I just think of her as an incredible tennis player. I don’t label her as a rival.”

Osaka is the winner of four Grand Slam singles tournaments and seven WTA tournaments. Due to pregnancy and the birth of her daughter, Naomi did not tour from late September 2022 to early 2023. Osaka returned to tennis with a victory over German Tamara Korpacz on January 1 in Brisbane. The Japanese woman currently occupies 229th position in the world rankings.

Svitolina also previously interrupted her career for a similar reason. In October 2022, she gave birth to a daughter, Sky, with French tennis player Gael Monfils, and in April 2023, more than a year after leaving, she returned to tennis at the WTA level. Elina soon reached the quarterfinals of Roland Garros and the semifinals of Wimbledon, by the end of the summer she returned to the top 30, and is now in 17th position in the WTA rankings.

The Osaka-Svitolina match will take place tomorrow, March 22. On the same day, Marta Kostyuk will fight against Arantxa Rus from the Netherlands.

Today, March 21, three more Ukrainians will play at the tournament in Miami. Lesya Tsurenko will face Belgian Gretje Minnen, Angelina Kalinina will face Danish Caroline Wozniacki, and Dayana Yastremskaya will face Australian Daria Saville. In addition, Kalinina, Yastremskaya and the Kichenok sisters will play in doubles in the same tournament.