Osaka back on track: "The final in Auckland is another milestone".

Naomi Osaka has made a good start to 2025. At the Auckland tournament, the former world number 1, who has been searching for her best form since returning from pregnancy, reached the final in New Zealand.

In the final, however, she was forced to retire after winning the first set against Clara Tauson with an abdominal injury.

Present in Melbourne after undergoing an MRI scan, the Japanese was at a press conference in the last few hours, just a few days before facing Caroline Garcia for a rematch of the first round of the same tournament last year.

"I'm optimistic that I'll be able to play my match. I've been training well since I arrived here.

At the time, it was just a shame because I had the impression that my body wasn't following what my brain wanted to do.

Obviously, I was worried about my participation here. At the time, I thought the best thing to do was to give up (at the final in Auckland).

I was desperate to play a final again after accumulating eliminations in the first rounds in 2024. My state of mind right now is probably the clearest it's been in a long time.

I did well in Auckland. I lost the final, but in my head I know I could have won it.

For me, it's another milestone because it's the first time I've gone this far in a tournament since my return.

But now, I don't think about it anymore. It's behind me, but I think I'm playing really well at the moment.

It only reinforces the idea of continuing, and I hope to reach even more finals in the future", Osaka elaborated for the Australian Open media.