With the U.S. Open set to begin on Monday, defending women's champion Naomi Osaka will once again be the focus of attention. 

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Osaka will be making her first Grand Slam appearance since she withdrew from the French Open after her first-round match and skipped Wimbledon for mental health reasons. 

Osaka, the U.S. Open's No. 3 seed, has been outspoken about her difficulty dealing with the media, briefly stepping away from a news conference at a tournament in Cincinnati earlier this month after she broke down in tears answering a question.

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However, she seems to be in a better frame of mind on the eve of the season's final major tournament. 


Video: Osaka says she intends to celebrate her achievements more and not worry about expectations in social media message (Reuters)

Osaka says she intends to celebrate her achievements more and not worry about expectations in social media message
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In an introspective social media post Sunday, Osaka admitted she can be too critical of herself. 

"I've never told myself that I've done a good job but I do know I constantly tell myself that I suck or I could do better," she wrote. "I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm gonna try to celebrate myself and my accomplishments more, I think we all should."

Osaka has plenty to celebrate. She's ranked third in the world in women's tennis behind the U.S. Open's top seed, Ashleigh Barty. She has won four Grand Slam singles titles -- the 2018 and 2020 U.S. Open and the 2019 and 2021 Australian Open. And she's the first woman since Monica Seles to win her first four Grand Slam singles finals.

"Your life is your own and you shouldn't value yourself on other people's standards," Osaka continued. "I know I give my heart to everything I can and if that's not good enough for some then my apologies but I can't burden myself with those expectations anymore. Seeing everything that's going on in the world I feel like if I wake up in the morning that's a win."

Naomi Osaka hitting a ball with a racket: Naomi Osaka, the defending U.S. Open champion, has never lost a Grand Slam quarterfinal, semifinal or title match in her pro career, going 12-0. © Seth Wenig, AP Naomi Osaka, the defending U.S. Open champion, has never lost a Grand Slam quarterfinal, semifinal or title match in her pro career, going 12-0.

Osaka begins her U.S. Open title defense in the opening night match in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday, facing Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic. 

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1/34 SLIDES © Yukihito Taguchi, USA TODAY Sports
Naomi Osaka (JPN) plays Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) in the women's tennis third round singles during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Ariake Tennis Park on July 27, 2021.
2/34 SLIDES © Yukihito Taguchi, USA TODAY Sports
Naomi Osaka (JPN) plays Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) in the women's tennis third round singles during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Ariake Tennis Park on July 27, 2021.
3/34 SLIDES © Yukihito Taguchi, USA TODAY Sports
Naomi Osaka (JPN) plays Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) in the women's tennis third round singles during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Ariake Tennis Park on July 27, 2021.
4/34 SLIDES © Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Naomi Osaka lights the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Olympic Stadium on July 23, 2021.
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5/34 SLIDES © Patrick Hamilton, BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images
Naomi Osaka, a three-time Grand Slam winning tennis player, advanced to the finals of the 2021 Australian Open. Osaka said May 31, 2021, that she is withdrawing from the French Open following the bitter fall-out from her decision to boycott all media activity. Take a look at her life and career in pictures.
6/34 SLIDES © Matthew Stockman, Getty Images for WTA
Naomi Osaka of Japan holds the winners trophy after defeating Caroline Garcia of France during the WTA Rising Stars Final at Singapore Sports Hub on October 25, 2015 in Singapore.
7/34 SLIDES © Robert Cianflone, Getty Images
Naomi Osaka of Japan serves in the women's single's match against Jarmila Wolfe of Australia during day two of the 2016 Hobart International at the Domain Tennis Centre on January 11, 2016 in Hobart, Australia.
8/34 SLIDES © Graham Denholm, Getty Images
Naomi Osaka smiles as she visits Melbourne Aquarium during day three of the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 20, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia.
9/34 SLIDES © Jerry Lai, USA TODAY Sports
Naomi Osaka of Japan in action against Coco Vandeweghe of the United States on day one of the 2016 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 29, 2016.
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10/34 SLIDES © Jerry Lai, USA TODAY Sports
Naomi Osaka of Japan hits a shot to Madison Keys of the United States on day five of the 2016 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Sept. 2, 2016.
11/34 SLIDES © Dan Hamilton, USA TODAY Sports
Naomi Osaka plays a shot against Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic during the Rogers Cup tennis tournament at Aviva Centre on Aug. 10, 2017.
12/34 SLIDES © Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports
Naomi Osaka shakes hands with Serena Williams after their match on day two of the Miami Open at Tennis Center at Crandon Park on March 21, 2018. Osaka won 6-3, 6-2.
13/34 SLIDES © Susan Mullane, Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
Naomi Osaka in action during her match against Madison Keys (USA) on day six of the 2018 French Open at Roland Garros on June 1, 2018 in Paris.
14/34 SLIDES © Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports
Naomi Osaka of Japan reaches for a forehand against Madison Keys of the United States in a women's semi-final match on day eleven of the 2018 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Sept. 6, 2018.
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15/34 SLIDES © Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports
Naomi Osaka, Billy Jean King, and Serena Williams before the women's final on day thirteen of the 2018 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Sept. 8, 2018.
16/34 SLIDES © Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports
Naomi Osaka of Japan wins a point against Serena Williams of the USA in the women's final on day thirteen of the 2018 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Sept. 8, 2018.
17/34 SLIDES © Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports
Naomi Osaka of Japan (left) cries as Serena Williams of the USA comforts her after the crowd booed during the trophy ceremony following the womenÕs final on day thirteen of the 2018 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Sept. 8, 2018.
18/34 SLIDES © Danielle Parhizkaran, USA TODAY SPORTS
Naomi Osaka poses with the championship trophy after defeating Serena Williams on day thirteen of the 2018 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Sept. 8, 2018.
19/34 SLIDES © Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports
From left, Naomi Osaka of Japan, Novak Djokovic of Serbia, Serena Williams of the United States, and Roger Federer of Switzerland participate in a ribbon cutting ceremony on new stadium court at Hard Rock Stadium prior to play in the first round of the Miami Open at Miami Open Tennis Complex on March 20, 2019.
20/34 SLIDES © Clive Brunskill, Getty Images
Naomi Osaka of Japan plays a backhand during her ladies singles second round match against Victoria Azarenka of Belarus during Day five of the 2019 French Open at Roland Garros on May 30, 2019 in Paris, France.
21/34 SLIDES © Kenzo Tribouillard, AFP via Getty Images
Naomi Osaka celebrates as she speaks with French former tennis player Fabrice Santoro, after winning against Belarus' Victoria Azarenka during their women's singles second round match on day five of The Roland Garros 2019 French Open tennis tournament in Paris on May 30, 2019.
22/34 SLIDES © Gary A. Vasquez, USA TODAY Sports
Naomi Osaka throws out the ceremonial first pitch before the Los Angeles Dodgers play against the Los Angeles Angels at Dodger Stadium on July 24, 2019.
23/34 SLIDES © John E. Sokolowski, USA TODAY Sports
Naomi Osaka serves a ball during the Rogers Cup tennis tournament at Aviva Centre on August 8, 2019.
24/34 SLIDES © Danielle Parhizkaran, USA TODAY Sports
Naomi Osaka reacts after defeating Magda Linette of Poland in the second round on day four of the 2019 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 29, 2019.
25/34 SLIDES © Danielle Parhizkaran, Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports
Naomi Osaka walks onto the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium to face Coco Gauff of the United States in the third round on day six of the 2019 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 31, 2019.
26/34 SLIDES © Kelvin Kuo, USA TODAY Sports
Naomi Osaka looks on from the sidelines during the second quarter between the LA Clippers and Washington Wizards at Staples Center on Dec. 1, 2019.
27/34 SLIDES © Danielle Parhizkaran, USA TODAY Sports
Naomi Osaka of Japan prepares to walk onto the court wearing a mask with the name of Ahmaud Arbery prior to her match on day five of the 2020 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Sept. 4, 2020. Osaka became known for her masks honoring victims of police brutality in the US.
28/34 SLIDES © Danielle Parhizkaran, USA TODAY Sports
Naomi Osaka of Japan serves on day five of the 2020 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Sept. 4, 2020.
29/34 SLIDES © Danielle Parhizkaran, Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports
Naomi Osaka of Japan celebrates winning the women's singles final match on day 13 of the 2020 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Sept. 12, 2020.
30/34 SLIDES © Brandon Malone, AFP via Getty Images
Japan's Naomi Osaka signs autographs for fans after beating Serena Williams of the US in their women's singles semi-final match on day eleven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on February 18, 2021.
31/34 SLIDES © Michael Dodge, Tennis Australia via Getty Images
This hand out photo released by the Tennis Australia on February 20, 2021 shows Japan's Naomi Osaka celebrates with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup trophy after her women's singles final match against Jennifer Brady of the US on day thirteen of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne.
32/34 SLIDES © Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports
Naomi Osaka of Japan waves while walking onto the court prior to her match against Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia (not pictured) in the second round in the Miami Open on March 26, 2021
33/34 SLIDES © Mark Brown, Getty Images
Naomi Osaka of Japan returns a shot during her singles second round match against Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia on Day 5 of the 2021 Miami Open on March 26, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Fla.
34/34 SLIDES © Christophe Ena, AP
Japan's Naomi Osaka celebrates after defeating Romania's Patricia Maria Tig during their first round match of the French open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium Sunday, May 30, 2021 in Paris.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Naomi Osaka looks to 'celebrate myself and my accomplishments more' at US Open

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