CNN
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Former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka won her first title since becoming a mother, beating Slovenian Kaja Juvan 6-1, 7-5.
The four-time Grand Slam champion, Osaka returned to competitive tennis at the beginning of 2024 after giving birth to her daughter in July 2023.
“It’s kind of ironic to win my first trophy on the surface I thought was the worst,” Osaka wrote to X following her victory.
“It’s one of my favorites about life, but there’s always room for growth and evolution. I know it’s turbulent, thanks to the people who’ve accompanied me on this journey, but it’s really fun and I’m grateful.”
It was the first clay court title in Osaka’s career, and comes after a promising start of the year was derailed by an injury.
Osaka’s victory will push her back to the top 50 in the world for the first time since returning to tennis.
The 27-year-old revealed that he is still adapting to tennis last year, saying that he “doesn’t feel like he’s inside me” after the birth of his daughter.
Osaka previously took a long break from tennis to prioritize her mental health.
The Japanese stars are scheduled to compete at the WTA 1000 Italian opening, which begins on Wednesday.
