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Serena Williams' childhood coach Rick Macci acknowledged no one becomes a Grand Slam champion by simply buying a Major on the market and warned Naomi Osaka has all the tools to return to being a dominant force once again after her pregnancy.
Three months after turning 23, Osaka lifted her fourth Grand Slam title after beating Jennifer Brady in the 2021 Australian Open final. Then, former world No 1 Osaka started battling mental health issues and injuries, which led to the Japanese taking breaks from tennis and not playing that much.
In January, Osaka announced she was pregnant with her first child and would return to tennis in 2024. "@naomiosaka has the god-given ability to become the best in the world again. You cannot buy Grand Slams over the Internet.
She knows the big stage and owned it. She has the weapons to deliver the goods. Pressure can become her best friend again. Never ever count out a champion," Macci tweeted.
@naomiosaka has the god given ability to become the best in the world again.
You cannot buy Grand Slams over the Internet.She knows the big stage and owned it. She has the weapons to deliver the goods. Pressure can become her best friend again.Never ever count out a champion. — Rick Macci (@RickMacci) May 16, 2023
Macci warns Osaka could make an impressive comeback
Recently, Osaka said she is very motivated to make a successful comeback to tennis.
Also, Osaka said she would like to win at least eight more Grand Slams before retiring. "I think you can't count out Osaka when she comes back because she's proven herself. And there's other players on any given day that can beat anybody.
Even though Iga is a little bit, in my opinion, a cut above. Little bit of this depends on the surface but they definitely can form a rivalry, there's no doubt about it. But with women's tennis it's kind of fluid, you know Serena retired, Barty exited stage left, Osaka you know, she's had a kid so you know at the end of the day a lot of people that had the pedigree are no longer there so it's wide open.
But absolutely Sabalenka, Rybakina and Iga, they can definitely have a Big-3 rivalry for a long time," Macci told Sportskeeda.
