NAOMI OSAKA ON GRASS
As mentioned above, just as there are different playing conditions between different types of clay, the same applies to grass: factors like speed, height and the reliability of bounces, as well as wind intensity, can be different, even quite a lot, between different tournaments. But this isn’t the only thing to take into account. For one, it is not so automatic that all powerful and attacking players will feel comfortable on the grass. There are those who struggle to adapt because they need more time for their backswings or because they rely heavily on the kick serve, which on grass is less effective than the slice or than flatter shots. For example, Samantha Stosur never had any good result on grass because she had that kind of limitations. But I don’t think Osaka will have similar problems.
I would particularly emphasize two qualities that can prove to be important on the grass: the ability to move and hit with a low centre of gravity, and the ability to interpret the game on the vertical, since drop shots and volleys are highly valued shots on this surface. I don’t know whether Naomi has issues moving and hitting with her legs more bent than on other surfaces. This is a difference that requires some muscular adaptation, even more marked if we take into account that the grass season comes after the clay one, which requires the opposite adaptation. You need to work well with your fitness coach, and it probably takes a few seasons to find the best conditioning formula. Again: experience.
As for the verticalization aspect, it’s still marginal for Naomi. I remember that in 2019 at Wimbledon she lost in the first round to Yulia Putinsteva. It might seem incredible that a player capable of serving over 120 miles per hour lost to a “clay specialist” like Yulia. However, Putintseva has an excellent touch, which allows her to play both excellent drop shots and effective volleys. Moreover, in 2019 she had managed to defeat Osaka not only at Wimbledon, but also in Birmingham, prevailing above all in the “vertical” game phases. So, it had been more than just a bad day.
However, it should be remembered that the reigning Wimbledon champion is Simona Halep, another player who is very reluctant to verticalize a lot. In short, this quality is certainly very useful on grass, but it is not as valuable as it once was.
On paper, grass also has potential advantages for Osaka. Above all, the blessing of having outstanding power with her shots. Serving at almost 200 km/h on the grass means having the point practically won, if it has not already turned into a direct winner. In addition, Naomi has shown that she can serve well in crunch time, and therefore her serve could turn into a weapon capable of making a difference in situations of extreme pressure. Finally, on grass it is essential to return with depth, and Osaka has made strides with this aspect of the game as of late.
Osaka will turn 24 in October – I have the impression that the next two to three seasons could prove decisive for her future outside of hardcourts. At 26, Radwanska gave up playing in Rome, and that choice represented, more or less consciously, a kind of surrendering to a surface that she felt uneasy on. At the other end of the spectrum, Sharapova was able to surprise everyone by winning in Paris at the age of 25, completing her process of adaptation to a surface that represented the missing piece to a Career Grand Slam.
On a historical level, at this point, it’s not just the number of Slam titles, but also their differentiation that is becoming important for Osaka. Because proving that you can win on different surfaces is undoubtedly a plus for every tennis player, and the Career Grand Slam is one of the hallmarks of a legend of the game – it was recently achieved by Serena and Sharapova, but missed by Venus and, just barely, by Henin (she was twice a runner-up at Wimbledon).
To me, Naomi seems like a very intelligent, professional and ambitious girl who sets very high goals for herself. The fact that she has won so much in the Grand Slams (much more than in other tournaments) shows that she is capable of aiming for the most important milestones. Perhaps this is also why, after the defeat against Putintseva two years ago at Wimbledon 2019, Osaka was so disappointed, so much so that at one point, during the post-match interview, she asked to leave the press room, saying, “I feel I am about to cry.”
This video tells us that perhaps one possible pitfall for Naomi is this: she puts too much pressure on herself to do well in two Grand Slams which, unlike hard courts, do not offer a second chance within twelve months. And the more Osaka continues to win on her favourite surface, the greater the demand from the media, the sponsors, and the fans to prove herself on other turfs. This is why, for a player of her status, trying to win on clay and grass as well has become one of the main goals for the next chapter of her career.
Translated by Michele Brusadelli; edited by Tommaso Villa
