Osaka on the birth of her daughter: "For me, freedom means being able to spend time with her".

Naomi Osaka has made a fine comeback on the WTA circuit this season.

Unranked in January and now back after her pregnancy, the Japanese former world No. 1 has returned to the top 60 at the end of the year.

In an interview with Harper's Bazaar, the four-time Grand Slam winner spoke of the birth of her daughter, who helps her in everyday life.

"For me, freedom right now means being able to spend time with my daughter, to see the joy in her eyes and to know that, as long as I'm a role model and present for her, nothing outside of that matters.

In the end, I realized that after becoming a mom, the question I ask myself has become very simple. No matter whether I win or lose, do I still love playing tennis as much as ever?

I'm still working to try and find true freedom in my life, but staying true to my beliefs has definitely helped me achieve a degree of personal freedom.

It has also helped me to put less pressure on myself, to bounce back quickly from setbacks," said Osaka.