The World no.3 Naomi Osaka has expressed confidence and stated that she is happy with the way she has been playing before the US Open. Osaka had withdrawn from Wimbledon 2021 due to mental health issues whereas she was knocked out of the Tokyo Olympics in the third round.

Subsequently, she lost in the Round of 16 match to Jill Techmann in the Cincinnati Masters. Meanwhile, the Japanese star has won all her four slams on hard courts and she will try her best to defend her title in New York.

Osaka admitted that she hasn’t played a lot of Tennis in 2021 but she is confident of doing well in the last slam of the season.

“Honestly, I know I haven’t played that many matches. I know that I haven’t even gotten to a quarterfinal [in a while],” she said. “Actually I feel pretty happy with how I’m playing. I thought I played two really tough matches in Cincinnati. The girl that I lost to, she played really well. I didn’t play her before, so I had no information on her.

“It’s one of those things where you do have to have a match rhythm. Of course, I played literally no tournaments before that match. “I feel pretty confident with where I am right now. Of course I’m not declaring that I’ll do amazing here. For me, I’m the one-match-at-a-time like person. Hopefully it will work out in the end.”

Osaka will begin her title defense against World no. 46 Marie Bouzkova in the opening round on Tuesday. The Japanese player has expressed confidence, which is a positive sign for her before the all-important slam as she looks ready to give her all. Osaka will like to bring her best to the table and go all the way in bid to defend her title at the US Open.