IT WAS DEC. 1 when everything seemed to come together — again — for Naomi Osaka.
She had been working tirelessly for the previous seven weeks with her team on and off the court at a private residence in Sherman Oaks, California, and on this day, it was as if everything that had made her a four-time major champion and world No. 1 clicked back into place.
Someone suggested filming part of their practice on that sunny Friday, but Osaka’s coach, Wim Fissette, didn’t need to check the footage to know what he was seeing with his own eyes.
“She was suddenly flying over the court and destroying every ball,” Fissette said. “She was incredible. I don’t know if she was inspired by the camera and wanted to show off her movement but that was when I thought, ‘She’s pretty much exactly where she needs to be to compete.'”
Standing nearby, Florian Zitzelsberger, her performance coach, couldn’t help but think she looked even better than she did before her break from the sport.
“I thought, ‘She’s so much more flexible now, she’s moving better, she’s so much more healthy,'” Zitzelsberger said.
Osaka later posted some of the video on her social media accounts. It didn’t take long to get the attention of tennis fans who were quick to comment:
“She’s BACK.”
“Motherhood definitely just makes something clickkk bc babyyy.. you really feel invincible!”
“She’s hitting like Serena. Watch the hell out folks she’s ready to come back.”
A few days later, Osaka looked every bit as ready to return to competition as her coaches and those online seemed to believe. Under the California winter sun — and watchful eyes of many, including television crews and reporters — Osaka remained undeterred by the attention. As people buzzed around the grounds, she never lost focus. She remained on the court, chasing down balls and giving herself the occasional pep talk under her breath. From time to time, she subtly clenched her fist in her signature, celebratory way.
Her ball-striking was powerful. She moved with ease. She looked calm and composed but also, perhaps most notably of all, happy. Relaxed, even. The smile that frequently appeared on her face didn’t disappear when she spoke with ESPN later that afternoon.
“Honestly I’m feeling pretty positive,” Osaka said. “Giving birth to my daughter changed my mindset…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at www.espn.com – TENNIS…