WATCH: Osaka tries "spin challenge" in Toronto

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WATCH: Osaka tries "spin challenge" in Toronto

ByCody Fitzpatrick

Published Aug 07, 2019

Naomi Osaka is the first to admit it: She didn't live up to expectations on the on the clay and grass in 2019. Despite some deep runs, she hasn't reached a final since the Australian Open, and she most recently suffered a first-round loss at Wimbledon.

"I don't wanna say it, but it feels really good to get away from the grass and the clay," Osaka told Tennis Channel's Prakash Amritraj. "Hard courts [are] sort of where I grew up, so it definitely feels more comfortable."

This sentiment isn't new from her. After last year's Wimbledon, she shared a picture captioned: "Hard court season lets gooooooo."

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Of course, Osaka then went on to win the US Open and Australian Open back to back.

Also like last year, she posted a note for her fans, stating her intention to change her outlook and have more fun on the court. She seems to already be living up to that resolution, as evidenced by the "spin challenge" she did with Furman University player Ivan Mitric, which became fodder for the WTA's new TikTok account.

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But the real test of where Osaka is at will come at the Rogers Cup, in Toronto, where she has the chance to reclaim the No. 1 ranking. In the first round, she'll play Tatjana Maria, whom she's never met in a main-draw match.