Four-time grand slam champion Naomi Osaka said on Sunday she still had a “deep love” for tennis and was excited for the coming season, believing she can revisit her former glories.

The Japanese 27-year-old has struggled for consistency since returning to the court in January this year after the birth of her daughter Shai in July 2023.

Her best results since then have been two quarter-final appearances that Osaka called “very painful”.

“I think 2024 humbled me, but I think I also grew a lot,” she said at the Auckland Classic, which she is using as a springboard to the Australian Open grand slam – a tournament she won in 2019 and 2021.

“I worked way harder than I ever have before and it was very painful to not get the results I wanted, but I feel like I am growing and learning.

“And I’m really excited for this year. I played some really good matches [in 2024].”

Her season was cut short by injury in October, after just one tournament under Patrick Mouratoglou – the Frenchman best known for being the long-time coach of Serena Williams.