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Reigning champion Naomi Osaka (centre) of Japan with team staff at a training session before the Australian Open in Melbourne. Photo: Handout

Naomi Osaka: Australian Open champ is back and ‘has really stepped up’, coach Yutaka Nakamura says

  • ‘We’re here for a reason’, Japanese star’s personal trainer insists ahead of comeback from mental health-related hiatus
  • Nakamura reflects on learning from ‘Generation Z’ athlete Osaka’s social media advocacy during the Covid-19 era
Naomi Osaka

Reigning Australian Open women’s singles champion Naomi Osaka is back to her physical and psychological best after a mental health-related hiatus from the sport, according to her personal trainer Yutaka Nakamura.

After failing to defend her US Open title last year, the 24-year-old Japanese star tearfully announced post-event she had fallen out of love with the sport.

The former world No 1 had been criticised after withdrawing from last year’s French Open having been fined for skipping media obligations.
Naomi Osaka (second from left) in a practise session with coach Wim Fissette (left), strength and conditioning coach Yutaka Nakamura (third from left) and Natsuko Mogi (right) before her Australian Open title defence in Melbourne. Photo: AFP

Osaka made her competitive return at a warm-up event in Melbourne this month, winning three matches and pulling out of the semi-final because of the “shock from playing back-to-back tennis matches after the break I took”. The world No 13 faces Colombia’s Camila Osorio in the first round of her grand slam title defence on Monday.

“This is my second year working with Naomi and I have all the data and statistics from past – how much she’s lifted, how fast she’s running, her treadmill trajectory,” said Nakamura, who previously helped Maria Sharapova to two grand slams and two world No 1 rankings.

“Based on that, I could step [training] up to the next level – and she really has stepped up.

“Yes, I believe [Osaka is back]. She stopped playing a little bit after the US Open and realised [tennis] is a good challenge and, most importantly, that she feels herself on the court. That’s what made Naomi Osaka what she is now. That’s when she shines.”

Who is Naomi Osaka? From Japanese birth to overtaking Serena Williams

Off the court, two-time Australian Open winner Osaka has not been not afraid to speak her mind. Predominantly via her social media platforms boasting millions of followers, she has shared several “enough is enough” moments regarding race and gender inequality, mental health stigma, the #WhereIsPengShuai campaign and, most recently, Novak Djokovic’s Australian visa saga.

What does Nakamura do to advise Osaka when they meet for daily morning smoothies or throw weighted medicine balls around in training?

“Nothing,” he said. “It’s like Sharapova. They have their own way of expressing their feelings. I’m not one of these people who tries to micromanage what she says or doesn’t say, what is good or not. I think that kills her instinct.

Strength and conditioning coach Yutaka Nakamura (left) with former world No 1 Naomi Osaka at a training session in Australia. Photo: Handout

“I stand behind Naomi and let her experience whatever her gut feeling is. I don’t guide her unless she asks. I really trust her decisions, movements and judgment. She’s a very humble, pure and innocent with a good foundation.”

Nakamura said he and other members of Team Osaka, including tennis coach Wim Fissette and physio Natsuko Mogi, had learned a lot from the “Generation Z” athlete.

 

“We’ve been spending a lot of time together because of this [Covid-19] era, staying in hotel rooms and understanding what it is you really want to achieve,” said Nakamura, who wrote a piece for Japanese daily Mainichi Shimbun in November praising Peng’s courage.

“Dealing with a person like Naomi – I’m 49 years old so she’s basically half my age – they grew up with smartphones and social media platforms and know how to express themselves,” he added.

“I didn’t grow up with that. My generation was more ‘no pain, no gain’ mentality. If you’re positive, that’s great; if you’re negative, you don’t show it. So it’s really good to learn about all this mental [health] awareness. Naomi’s favourite quote is ‘it’s OK to not be OK’.

 

“It’s OK to share feelings, not just to inspire others but to be true to themselves. Credit to Naomi for doing that. That’s the kind of thing I’ve learned a lot from her, [seven-time Olympic medallist] Simone Biles and others.”

As for enduring a mind-numbing pandemic, the perennial plane-quarantine-train cycle, and the hawk-eyed media, Nakamura said Osaka was not short of motivation.

“We’re here for a reason. Naomi is a professional athlete and her ultimate goal is to be tennis No 1 in the world and to win the slam,” he said.
 

“But Naomi has done that in the past – so what else is a challenge? She not only wants to repeat the goals that she has achieved already, but grow from last year. What about shot selection, decision-making, recovery, strength, conditioning and fitness levels? Winning is one thing, but we’re more focused on the process.

“She still has a lot of room to grow, and she’s aware of that. At the same time, we have a more holistic, one-day-at-a-time approach to not think too far ahead.

“It’s very easy to fall into saying ‘she won last year and must defend all her points and titles’, which puts so much pressure on her. It’s about putting in maximum effort wherever you are that day.”

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