“I actually had a blast on court docket for the primary time shortly,” Osaka informed Self afterward. “I’ve a brand new perspective and I am so appreciative that I’ve this profession and platform. I am additionally actually energized and motivated.”

Reflecting on how far she’d come since going public together with her struggles, she informed Folks final April, “The most important lesson I’ve discovered is to attempt to be current in every second. It is simple to lose sight of how far you’ve got come, however I have been prioritizing making an attempt to stay within the second and benefit from the journey.”

And her spirits remained excessive because the 12 months went on, the athlete tweeting July 30, “Simply went by means of my previous notes from final 12 months…wow I am principally an entire completely different particular person now,” and on Aug. 4, “I am actually at peace with myself. I did not suppose I might ever really feel like this, it is kinda fascinating lol.”

She additionally funneled a few of her well-earned knowledge right into a kids’s guide, The Manner Champs Play, posting a photograph of her pup Butta showing to scan the brightly illustrated pages.

“For me, I simply keep in mind being actually impressed by books rising up,” Osaka defined to Roberts on GMA final month, “so simply to hopefully cross that feeling on to the following era is absolutely cool.”

And it seems the following era is on its means, able to level on the tennis court docket—or the bookshelf—and say, “That is my mother.”