Will it be a different Naomi Osaka who returns?
Naomi Osaka is a proven top-class player, although only really on hardcourts. All four of her majors have come on that surface, and when she was at her peak she almost looked unbeatable at times. However, her problems on clay and grass certainly highlighted deficiencies in her game, and Florian Zitzelsberger says there is a plan to make changes so she is a different, more complete player when she does return. “She’s obviously a great offense player, but I think things have changed in the game over the last half-decade where defence is getting more and more important,” Zitzelsberger said. “We’re working to make Naomi into a player who can transition more effectively from defence to offense. “That way, even if she’s getting pushed into a defensive position, she can still strike an offensive shot.”READ NEXT: Paula Badosa angrily denies claims she has ‘destroyed’ Stefanos Tsitsipas’ career
