Naomi Osaka says Novak Djokovic has completely changed the way tennis is played

Novak Djokovic has been a huge part of that shift, and it’s something Naomi Osaka is well aware of.

Despite having a tough time with injuries recently, the 28-year-old’s CV includes four Grand Slam titles.

She also made it to the top of the WTA rankings, following in the footsteps of Djokovic, who did the same on the men’s side.

With 24 major titles to his name, Djokovic has left a massive mark on the sport. Osaka feels he’s been responsible for some positive changes along the way.

Naomi Osaka credits Novak Djokovic for changing how players approach fitness

Osaka recently spoke about her early days in tennis, telling Hypebeast she started playing at a very young age.

“Yeah, I technically started playing tennis when I was three, and I think I turned pro when I was 16 or 17,” she said.

She went on to explain that the game has evolved a lot since she first picked up a racquet.

“Everyone’s been inspired by the Williams (Serena and Venus) sisters. Whether they say it or not, they’ve definitely changed the game a lot. And I think when I played, I was lucky enough to play both of them.”

The four-time major champion noted there were players from the past she wished she could have competed against.

“Looking back, there’s a few players I looked up to who I wish I could have played against, like Li Na or [Elena] Dementieva. I also kind of liked the drama with [Jelena] Jankovic.”

When asked what changes stood out most in today’s game compared to when she first started playing professionally, Osaka pointed to fitness and preparation as key differences.

“In the times before us, I think some athletes could get away with doing certain things just because they were athletic enough.”

The Japanese star also praised Djokovic for setting new standards around training and recovery:

“He’s kind of set a precedent on understanding your body and putting in work to do all the recovery.”

The legacy Naomi Osaka wants to leave behind after retirement

Novak Djokovic is still setting an example even now. At 38 years old, he reached another Grand Slam final this season, losing only to Carlos Alcaraz. But he’s been managing his schedule carefully in recent years too. So far this season he has only played in Melbourne.

It’s not been a smooth start for Osaka either. She had appeared at the United Cup before Australia but later withdrew from both Qatar Open and Dubai Tennis Championships due to ongoing issues.

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