Naomi Osaka Shares Secret for Dealing with Too Much Pressure: ‘I Usually Call My Family’

Take notes, people. Naomi Osaka is opening up about how she prepares (both mentally and physical) to step on the tennis court.

The 23-year-old professional athlete recently sat down for an exclusive interview with PureWow, where she discussed her plans for the 2021 tennis season. Although the majority of her physical work is done “in the off-season,” Osaka revealed that her mental training is “a bit more challenging.”

“Tennis is full of ups and downs, and I feel like I learn from every match,” she told PureWow. “The tough ones are valuable experiences that will help me out in the end.”

Osaka went on to explain how she copes with pre-match jitters, adding, “Going into Slam finals is definitely the worst. You can’t really sleep at night and you tend to overthink everything until the last minute. When that happens, I usually call my family, and they calm me down. Then, I go onto the court and hope for the best.”

As for the big day itself, Osaka will turn to catchy beats to get her in the mood. “I just listen to music and zone out,” she explained. “I don’t really have particular music that I like to play before a game, but I always listen to upbeat songs.”

Osaka also discussed her role as brand ambassador of TAG Heuer, revealing that the company’s motto has always motivated her to do better. “I remember during Grand Slams or just in commercials, I would hear the phrase ‘Don’t crack under pressure’ and always thought that was a really powerful motto,” she continued. “I’m not sure if that was a sign, but it’s a really cool full circle moment.”

Guess the age-old saying is true: When in doubt, call your mom.

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