Former world number one Naomi Osaka says she has gone through “more downs than ups” this year.
The 24-year-old from Japan has not won a title since last year’s Australian Open and has been defeated in the first round of her past three tournaments.
A four-time Grand Slam winner, she has dropped to 48th in the rankings going into this week’s Pan Pacific Open.
“This year has not been the best year for me but I’ve learned a lot about myself,” Osaka said.
“Life is ups and downs, and this year was more down than up, but overall I’m pretty happy with where I am now.”
Osaka is defending her title at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, an event which returns after a three-year absence following the coronavirus pandemic.
In May 2021, Osaka pulled out of the French Open after revealing she had “suffered long bouts of depression” since winning her first Grand Slam title in 2018, and in September of that year she announced she would take a break from the sport.
