Hard-hitting Naomi Osaka wants to swing away, even when playing on slow clay, but admits she often isn't sure what she's doing on the surface—or even what kind of player she wants to be.
The 20-year-old defeated Victoria Azarenka in the first round of Rome, but then won just one game against No. 1 Simona Halep. She might even have got a little teary during her 6-1, 6-0 defeat.
“I didn't say, I wanna cry... Maybe I did. Actually, maybe I did,” she told press at Rome. “Because it's just like one of the most helpless feelings. Like I know I should be making these balls, but for some reason they're not going in, and I don't really know what I should be doing at this point.
"Because I'm legit playing the No. 1 player in the world. And the balls that I practice, they go in. And today it doesn't go in. It's just like one of those moments, you're a little bit depressed."
Still, Osaka gave herself credit for largely avoiding such performances since having an up-and-down 2017.
"I think this is the first match of the year that I've felt like this," she said. "So this year I feel it's been more stable. So I'm really proud of myself for that.”
The Japanese player had a great start to the season, reaching the fourth round of the Australian Open and winning Indian Wells, scoring wins against Maria Sharapova, Agnieszka Radwanska, Karolina Pliskova, Halep and Daria Kasatkina. She also defeated Serena Williams in Miami.
WATCH: Osaka defeats Williams at Miami Open