US Open 2019: Quick healer Osaka confident over fitness

Defending champion Naomi Osaka feels "more loose and comfortable" in New York after a "turbulent" few months.

Naomi Osaka: "Luckily, I'm a fast healer."

Naomi Osaka is optimistic being a "fast healer" will ensure she is pain free when she starts the defence of her US Open title.

Osaka retired from the Western & Southern Open last week after injuring her left knee in Cincinnati. The World No. 1 on Friday gave a positive update on her condition as she prepares to face Anna Blinkova in the first round at Flushing Meadows.

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Osaka said: "Yeah, it's getting better. I have been playing more and longer every day. It's feeling better. Luckily I'm a fast healer, so I think it's looking good."

The top seed believes the experience of returning to Indian Wells as defending champion can help her in New York.

Put a microphone in front of @Naomi_Osaka_ and she never fails to entertain. #USOpenpic.twitter.com/cReJD5vsKQ

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 23, 2019

 

"I think going to Indian Wells and kind of learning how defending champion pressure feels, I think it definitely helped me out going into this tournament," said the 21-year-old.

"Because I just feel more loose and comfortable here. I'm not sure if it's because the last couple of months have been kind of turbulent, but definitely I feel really comfortable and I know that, despite everything, I play well here every year. So I'm not too worried about that."