Naomi Osaka has opened up on the immense pressure she placed on herself earlier this year that contributed to a slump in form and the loss of her top ranking.
The 21-year-old Japanese continued her late season resurgence Sunday with victory over current number one Ashleigh Barty in Beijing's China Open final.
It meant back-to-back WTA Tour titles for Osaka, who won the Australian Open in January, but then failed to match those high standards at the next three Grand Slams.
"I think this dip that I had really humbled me, it made me very motivated to be here right now," she said after coming back from a set down to defeat Australia's Barty.
Osaka, toppled as number one by Barty in June and now ranked third, said that after winning in Melbourne "I honestly was counting the ranking points.
"I was too stats-oriented after I won the Australian Open because there was this big thing about you're number one now.
"Then I felt like I shouldn't lose a match after that."
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