‘Perfectionist’ Osaka builds belief

JAPAN’S Naomi Osaka says she is building selfconfidence and belief while trying to be less of a perfectionist on and off the tennis court.

The defending US Open champion beat 87th-ranked Czech Marie Bouzkova 6-4 6-1 in 93 minutes on Tuesday to reach a secondround match-up with Serbian qualifier Olga

Danilovic. Osaka said she didn’t feel pressure but was nervous nonetheless as she tries to make life changes.

“I tell people I’m a perfectionist. For me, something that’s less than perfection, even though it might be something great, is a disappointment,” Osaka said. “I don’t really think that’s a healthy way of thinking, so something that

I really want to change. In this tournament I just want to be happy knowing I did my best and even though I didn’t play perfect I was able to win a match in two sets.”

Perth’s Astra Sharma was the only Aussie female in action on Tuesday, going down 6-0 6-4 to Czech eighth seed Barbora Krejcikova.