Osaka "not chasing" No. 1 ranking anymore

After winning the Australian Open in 2019, Naomi Osaka rose to world No. 1 for the very first time. As her campaign Down Under begins, she opened up about how important it is to be on top.

"It doesn't bother me as much as it used to," the world No. 3 said. "I remember when I first got to No. 1, I think nobody really acknowledged me as No. 1."

The 23-year-old shared a conversation she had with someone at Indian Wells in 2019, just weeks into her stint as No. 1. She was asked what side of the draw she was on at the WTA 1000 event, when, of course, she'd be at the very top. The exchange left her thinking that no one really saw her as No. 1.

"I just kept trying to prove myself and I felt that wasn't really a great mindset to have," Osaka said. "I feel like right now I'm at a really good place. I just want to play every match as hard as I can and if it comes to the point where I'm able to be No. 1 again, I'll embrace it.

"But, I'm not really chasing it like that anymore."

That season Osaka didn't play to her fullest potential as the expectations were high while she was trying to prove to the world she was the best. She was battling her own inner demons as well as her opponents.

She struggled the most obviously at Roland Garros in 2019, where she was bageled in the opening set against Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, and was two points away from falling in the first round as the top seed. She would eventually lose in the third round.

"This tournament I have had a feeling that was different to every other Grand Slam that I have played because usually I find it very freeing and fun, and this time around I was kind of tense the entire time..." she told press in Paris. "I have been tense even when I'm sleeping."

Putting too much emphasis on trying to win a Slam and proving to the world she was the best wasn't allowing her to play freely. Since then, she's found her balance, and she thrived in 2020 with her third Grand Slam title win, at the US Open.

On Monday, she got off to a great start by defeating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, 6-1, 6-2, in the first round. She will take on Carolina Garcia next.