- Addressing reporters during the Indian Wells press briefing following her third-round loss, the four-time Grand Slam champion confessed that she currently has no aspirations to reclaim the No. 1 ranking, emphasizing that such a goal was never her primary motivation for returning to tennis.
- “My focus has always been on securing more victories,” she elaborated. “That’s why I made my comeback.” Osaka’s hiatus from the sport lasted until January, with her last appearance being at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo in September 2022, where she withdrew due to illness.
Ranked 287th in the Women’s Tennis Association Tour rankings, Osaka previously held the top spot for 25 weeks, reaching it on January 28, 2019.
Responding to critiques of her performance on Tuesday, Osaka asserted that she attempted “every conceivable method” to stage a comeback in the match.
Looking ahead, following her exit from the Indian Wells Open, Osaka is anticipating the Miami Open 2024, set to commence on Sunday, March 17, with the women’s qualifying rounds. Her most recent participation in the Miami Open was in 2022 at the Hard Rock Stadium, where she finished as the runner-up.
Expressing her anticipation for the upcoming trip, Osaka mentioned, “I’m particularly excited to return to Miami because I haven’t had Haitian cuisine in quite a while—around three years.”
