Naomi Osaka says Novak Djokovic has completely changed the way tennis is played
Naomi Osaka said novak Djokovic has been a major influence on how elite players prepare and recover, and she singled out his approach as a key part of her own comeback planning.
Osaka points to fitness and recovery
The 28-year-old four-time major champion told Hypebeast she started playing tennis at age three and "think[s] I turned pro when I was 16 or 17. " Osaka said the game has shifted since her earliest days, with greater emphasis on fitness and preparation—areas she credits Djokovic for helping to reshape.
Why Novak's training model appealed to Osaka
Osaka praised Djokovic for setting a precedent in understanding the body and prioritizing recovery. She called his work on training and recovery influential, noting that today's athletes can no longer rely on raw athleticism alone and must manage their schedules and bodies more carefully.
Career arc: highs, breaks and a push to return
Osaka’s CV includes four Grand Slam titles and time at world No. 1 on the WTA rankings. Her Grand Slam victories include the US Open in 2018 and 2020 and the Australian Open in 2019 and 2021, achievements that helped propel her to the top spot.
She later stepped away from the tour to give birth, then returned in 2024 and climbed to No. 59. In 2025 she tried to regain rhythm but fell short; by 2026 she had risen to No. 16 and has set a goal of reaching at least the top three.
Recent tournament moves and ongoing issues
Osaka appeared at the United Cup before Australia but withdrew from the Qatar Open and the Dubai Tennis Championships because of ongoing issues, a sequence she has described in interviews as part of her comeback challenges.
Djokovic’s longevity and this season’s picture
Djokovic, who has 24 major titles, reached another Grand Slam final this season at age 38, losing only to Carlos Alcaraz. The context notes he has been managing his schedule more carefully in recent years and so far this season has only played in Melbourne.
Other items in the conversation
The wider coverage sitting alongside Osaka’s comments includes a headline about Chris Eubanks revealing what ATP players think of Novak Djokovic’s serve, and a separate note that Jennifer Capriati was named the greatest junior ever over Serena Williams by her former coach. These items appeared in the same collection of stories around Osaka’s remarks.
Osaka has cited the Williams sisters—Serena and Venus—as major inspirations and said she was lucky to have played both. She also mentioned players from the past she wished she could have faced, naming Li Na and Elena Dementieva, and said she enjoyed the drama around Jelena Jankovic.
Across interviews she has framed her career as a roller coaster that has built resilience: more than 16 years as a professional, a string of major wins, a break to start a family, and a steady climb back up the rankings with an explicit target of cracking the top three.
What happens next is unclear in the provided context: the story confirms Osaka’s goals for 2026 and Djokovic’s limited calendar this season, but it does not list specific upcoming tournament entries for either player.
