OMNIUM BANQUE NATIONALE

August 3, 2025

Naomi Osaka

Press Conference

N. OSAKA/A. Sevastova

6 1, 6 0

THE MODERATOR: Naomi, congratulations. Through to the quarterfinals here in Montreal. How proud are you of your performance here this week?

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, I mean, I'm definitely really happy. I think today was obviously faster than I thought it would be, but I'm really happy with how the game plan went, and I'm excited to play my next match.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What makes you so tough to play against this week?

NAOMI OSAKA: I don't really know. I think honestly for me I had, like, a really tough match in Wimbledon, and it kind of made me restructure my mind a little bit. Then obviously I went to D.C., and I played a good match there.

I'm just trying to rack up hard court wins. I think I'm pretty confident with my base right now, so yeah.

Q. When a player wins I guess that quickly, does it change how you kind of approach the not the recovery, but I know a lot of players, they train or they practice after such a quick match. Did it change anything in terms of how you kind of are going about preparing for the next round?

NAOMI OSAKA: Honestly for me, not really. I think if it was earlier in the tournament, I might have went and did more gym or something like that, but since it's later on, I think everyone kind of wants to rest a little bit more to prepare for potential matches.

Q. The story is yet to be written in this tournament, but this is so far your best result in a 500 or more tournament this season. Do you allow yourself to enjoy it, or do you want to push it back until the tournament is over?

NAOMI OSAKA: Honestly, I am allowing myself to enjoy it, and I think for me it's kind of ironic just because I don't find myself it's really hard to describe, but I don't want it as bad, which is kind of weird to say.

I'm kind of just allowing myself to I guess see what the results of my practicing is and, like, all that other jazz. I'm happy with where my tennis will take me no matter what happens.

Q. Maybe on a bigger picture, at this stage of your career and knowing that you are fighting to get back on top, how do you measure success? Is it a matter of wins, titles, ranking?

NAOMI OSAKA: It's weird. I talked to my dad, and he said, like, Just being healthy and happy is a form of success. I agree with that, but I want more.

But yeah, I mean, definitely, of course I would want to win slams, of course I would want to be in the top 10, but I think I need to pace myself and go for the mini goals, and they'll eventually turn into the big goals.

Yeah, I think being in the quarterfinals here is a step to hopefully getting to the semis and the finals, so I'll try to treat it more like that.

Q. I guess, how do you feel? You get great commanding wins this week. How do you feel, in general? What is working for you this week, you would say?

NAOMI OSAKA: Honestly, I think for me what's working well is I am very confident in my fitness. I'm really comfortable just getting balls back now, and I really enjoy Tomasz. I don't know if to say his name is 'Thomas' or 'Tomasz.' I'm so sorry.

But I enjoy his coaching style. He's very direct and to the point. For someone like me, who my thoughts scatter around often, it's very helpful.

Q. We don't know who you are going to play next. It could be Amanda. If it is going to be Amanda, I wonder a couple of things. How much does that match at the Australian Open stick with you? Do you think about it from time to time? Number two, how much have you followed her journey, because she took time away from the game like you did, and she's talked about that a little bit.

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, of course I remember playing her in the Australian Open. I think for me I was just really emotional, because I was defending I think at the time.

She was super nice to me after that, and she's a really nice girl. I do follow her journey because I respect her a lot, and I think she's one of the best tennis players in the world, which of course, not that she has to prove it, but she's showing that.

Wimbledon was a little sad, but I'm happy that she's bouncing back. Yeah, it's definitely going to be fun to watch what she continues to do.

Q. Maybe more specific, even though you take a break, you never lose your first serve. It's still your biggest weapon. Can you explain why?

NAOMI OSAKA: I don't know. I think for me I just grew up in an era of watching Serena, and she would be down Love 40 and hit four aces. I still think about that sometimes when I play.

I also feel like it doesn't have to be an ace. I just have to hit a really good serve and see what happens, because off the baseline, I still think I'm one of the better players, so...