Madrid Open favorite Osaka recaptures spark

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After a week of training on the clay courts of the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Naomi Osaka feels she's rediscovered the form that had been missing since her Australian Open triumph in January.

The top seed at the Madrid Open this week, Osaka says she's ready to return to action and isn't too concerned about the abdominal injury she sustained in Stuttgart where she reached the semi-final last week.

The world number one was forced to withdraw ahead of her semi-final against Anett Kontaveit at the German tournament but was seen hitting at Madrid's Caja Magica on Friday, and said she's pain-free.

"I haven't served up until today and basically I was just resting it," Osaka told reporters in the Spanish capital on Friday.

"Of course I hit ground strokes for the past three days because it's not like I could fully rest, but it's not painful, so I think it's looking good."

Japan's Naomi Osaka reacts after her 0-2 loss against France's Kristina Mladenovic during the Dubai Tennis Championships in UAE, February 19, 2019. /VCG Photo

Seeking her first title on clay, Osaka opened against 2016 runner-up Dominika Cibulkova in Madrid.

Following a second consecutive Grand Slam triumph at the Australian Open in January, the 21-year-old Osaka lost some momentum.

The Japanese-Haitian star parted ways with her coach Sascha Bajin and suffered an opening-round defeat in Dubai, a fourth-round exit in Indian Wells -- where she was the defending champion -- and a third-round loss in Miami.

Japan's Naomi Osaka looks dejected after her defeat at the Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, U.S., March 12, 2019. /VCG Photo

She hired Jermaine Jenkins as her coach ahead of Indian Wells and says she feels like Stuttgart has got her back on track.

"I think in Stuttgart, I did pretty well," she said.

"I played two really hard matches and I think that I just was able to turn a switch on that I haven't been able to since the Australian [Open].

"It was really fun actually, those matches, so I'm really looking forward to my next one," added Osaka.

Source(s): AFP