'Of course I would like to win Grand Slams': Naomi Osaka rediscovers fire in Canadian Open quarterfinal run

Naomi Osaka secured a notable victory in just 50 minutes against Anastasija Sevastova to return to the quarterfinals of a WTA 1000 and achieve her fourth consecutive victory. The former world No. 1 appears to be reuniting with her best tennis and has secured her return to the top 35.

It was a convincing performance from Osaka, who just a few days ago saved a couple of match points against Liudmila Samsonova in her debut. The four-time Grand Slam champion acknowledged that her expectations are higher than what she has achieved and that she would like to be competing for Grand Slam titles.

Osaka had no problem dispatching Sevastova with a simply remarkable performance on serve. The Japanese player won 72% of her points on both her first and second serves, and she also hit a total of five aces. The current world No. 49 converted all five of her break opportunities and got out of trouble on all three occasions her opponent had a chance to break.

Osaka embraces the process in Montreal rise

In her press conference, Osaka was full of joy after a revitalizing victory that boosted her confidence. The Japanese player is competing in her first tournament since separating from her former coach Patrick Mouratoglou after 10 months together, and she has been working this week with Tomasz Wiktorowski, a former coach of Iga Swiatek and Agnieszka Radwańska.

"I am very happy, without a doubt. I think today was faster than I expected, but I am very pleased with how the strategy went, and I am eager to play my next match," Osaka shared. "I had a very tough match at Wimbledon, and that made me rethink things a bit. Then, of course, I went to Washington and had a good match there. I try to accumulate wins on hardcourt. Right now, I have quite a bit of confidence in my game."

"I am allowing myself to enjoy it, and I think it's a bit ironic for me because it's not easy for me to describe, but I don't desire it with such intensity, which is a bit strange to say. I suppose I am allowing myself to see what the results of my training and all that are. I am happy with where my tennis will take me, whatever happens."

"I grew up watching Serena"

For Osaka, her goals are much higher than what she has achieved in the last year, where she has found greater consistency but has only managed to stay around the top 50. The separation from Mouratoglou is surely aimed at taking another step up. Osaka, at 23, already had four Grand Slam titles in her showcase, but since then, she has gone several years without finding the form that took her to the top of the rankings.

While Osaka hopes to return to the elite, she recognizes that it is a process that will take some time and that she must be happy with the progress she has made. "It's odd. I spoke with my father, and he said that being healthy and happy is already a form of success. I agree with that, but I want more."

"Of course, I would like to win Grand Slams, of course, I would like to be in the top ten, but I think I have to go step by step and set smaller goals, which over time will become bigger goals. Being in the quarterfinals here is a step towards, hopefully, reaching the semifinals and the final, so I will try to see it more like that."

The Japanese player also referred to how she has taken inspiration from Serena Williams for her serve. The Japanese player has gotten out of complicated moments several times with good first serves and a lot of personality from the back of the court to go for the points.

"I grew up at a time when I watched Serena play. She could be losing 0-40 and serve four aces. Sometimes I still think about that when I play. I also believe it doesn't have to be an ace. I just have to serve really well and see what happens because from the baseline, I still think I am one of the best players."

Match Statistics Osaka vs. Sevastova