US Open champion Osaka sets sights on Tokyo Olympics

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US Open champion Naomi Osaka Monday set her sights on Olympic glory in 2020 as she became only the second Japanese woman to reach number four in the world rankings.

The fast-rising tennis star, who turned 21 on Sunday, has already become Japan's first Grand Slam singles champion and the top ranked Japanese woman since Kimiko Date in 1995.

Now she is targeting a strong performance at the WTA Finals Singapore later this month and she could yet finish her standout season as the top placed Japanese woman of all time.

"Everyone is really excited in Japan for the Olympics," she said at the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open, also a WTA event, which she was forced to withdraw due to a back injury.

"I really want to experience the moment and at the same time I know I want to win the gold medal - everyone who plays in the Olympics wants to win gold - so that would be my aim, but overall just to have fun."

"For me definitely I don't want to stop at just one Grand Slam, of course I want to win more, but right now it's not the Australian Open, it's Singapore I have to look forward to."

Naomi Osaka (L) of Japan meets fans and signs autographs at the Hong Kong Tennis Open on October 8, 2018. /VCG Photo

"I keep moving, I don't really stay in one spot, I haven't had that mental space to think I just won the US Open," she said.

She is now undergoing treatment for her back injury and said she will be "excited" to play in Singapore alongside the women's elite.

At the beginning of the year she ranked just 68 but is now within touching distance of making history as the top ranked Japanese woman.

"For me the year's not done yet so I want to keep playing and see how I can get."

Source(s): AFP