Osaka crowds her schedule as tennis travel bug bites

Naomi Osaka has added this week’s Doha WTA event to her schedule, with the comeback candidate just happy to be out on Tour after a home-bound pregnancy.

The four-time Grand Slam winner who quit the Tour due to pregnancy and emotional burnout, is back in action and will back up Doha by playing this month at the sister event in Dubai from next Monday.

Osaka lost in the first round last week in Abu Dhabi to Danielle Collins.

“It’s definitely hard for me not to be hard on myself, but after Abu Dhabi, I have more confidence in myself,” the Japanese player said. 

“I know that in Australia I said I would only play in Dubai, but “I decided I to play these tournaments a day after losing in Australia.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been here, I wasn’t very aware of the Dubai and Doha weeks and how close they are to Indian Wells, so I was wrong.

“It’s still early in the season, so I don’t feel tired.”

Osaka is travelling without her infant daughter, apparently back at base in LA.

“When I was pregnant I was envious of everyone who could travel, so now I’m happy to not be stuck at home,” she said.

“Obviously I miss my daughter a lot, I’m looking forward to her travelling with me, because she’s coming to Europe. I’m hoping to do better and win more matches, so maybe I won’t have to play as many tournaments.

“I have to be smarter with my scheduling because I want to make time for her, I don’t want her to not have memories of her in her memories of her.”