Australian Open 2019: Defending champion Naomi Osaka ready to shine

Naomi Osaka is confident she is in a better position for this year’s event than when she arrived in Melbourne 12 months ago.

Reigning Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka is confident she is in a better position for this year’s event than when she arrived in Melbourne 12 months ago.

But the Japanese star, who hired renowned coach Wim Fissette over the off-season, is mindful some of the other key contenders including Ash Barty have improved sharply since her success over Petra Kvitova in the 2018 decider.

Osaka demonstrated her mental strength and overall excellence when she was able to follow a triumph in the 2018 US Open by winning another major at her next attempt in Melbourne.

The 22-year-old was beaten in the fourth round in New York last September when trying to defend her US Open title but believes the experience will stand her in good stead over the next fortnight.

“I think I’m definitely more relaxed now compared to the US Open. I think I learned a lot there, just in a way of handling my nerves and what to expect,” she said.

“Definitely I’m glad I was able to experience everything that I experienced. I think heading into this tournament, I’ll be more prepared.”

The world No 3 will play Marie Bouzkova in her opening round match on Monday.

Only a year separates Osaka and the Czech, who is 21, in age and the pair have never played.

“I think I’m playing better this year, around this time this year, than I was last year. But everyone in the world is getting better,” she said.

“That’s not really an accurate, like, comparison, to compare me last year to this year.”

Osaka, who has won 13 of the 16 matches she has played in Australia, started her season with a semi-final appearance in Brisbane.

She was beaten by three-time champion Karolina Pliskova in a high-class clash and has practised in Melbourne over the last week, though only once on Rod Laver Arena.

It was her first outing since withdrawing after winning her opening match at the WTA Finals because of a shoulder injury, but the former world No 1 feels the joint is healthy.

“My shoulder is pretty good. I think I served well in Brisbane. Hopefully I can serve well in

this tournament, too,” she said in an interview translated from Japanese.

“I think in Brisbane, though, I played, like, four top-20 opponents. So it was really difficult right off the bat. I can’t really even gauge my level that well.”

Caroline Wozniacki, the 2018 champion, said she will retire after this Australian Open with no regrets.

The former World No 1, who was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 2018, feels satisfied with what she has achieved in her career.

The Dane opened the season in New Zealand and will play Kristie Ahn in her opening round match in Melbourne.

“Honestly, I’m leaving with no regrets at all, because I’ve worked so hard my whole life, my whole career,” she said.

“I’ve given it literally everything that I have to reach where I got. Can you go back and say, ‘Had I done this thing differently or this thing differently? Maybe.’

“At the end of the day, every single day I showed up, in practice and in matches, and I gave it my all. That’s why I can look back at my career and say I’m very proud of everything that I’ve achieved, very proud of the ups and the downs.

“But especially to be able to just continually push myself to be a better player, I feel like I’ve given a lot to the sport that I can be very proud of.”

Reigning Wimbledon champion Simona Halep is also confident in her form despite losing in a quarterfinal in Adelaide to Aryna Sabalenka.

A finalist in Melbourne in 2018, Halep has rejoined forces with Australian coach Darren Cahill.

The 28-year-old feels she still has a lot to learn from a man who has coached Lleyton Hewitt, Andre Agassi and herself to the world’s top ranking.

The 2018 French Open champion declared one of the greatest challenges about the Australian Open was dealing with Melbourne’s notoriously fickle weather.

“I want it badly. But it’s very difficult,” she said.

“Also the heat sometimes. Sometimes it’s cold. The changes are not easy for me to adjust. For me, the very humid atmosphere, when I played the final, it was tough for me.

“I have just to be ready for every match I play and not thinking about the result. I put pressure on myself and I don’t like that.”