Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka says she plans to watch videos of Rafael Nadal on clay as she attempts to improve her own game on the surface.

Osaka is yet to win a clay-court title so far in her career but believes the surface is one she can still learn to master.

The 24-year-old reached the final of the Miami Open last week but lost to new world number one Iga Swiatek in straight sets. 

And with the hard court season now finished for the time being, the Japanese star has set herself some lofty targets between now and the end of the year. 

Plans to watch Nadal

Nadal is undisputedly the greatest clay-court player of all time, having won the French Open on a record 13 occasions. 

The Spaniard is renowned for gliding around the clay with effortless ease and Osaka has admitted she plans on studying Nadal’s matches. 

"I'm going to watch a lot of Nadal videos to see how he moves," she told the WTA website. 

Osaka also referenced the young teenager Carlos Alcaraz, who is taking the men’s game by storm at the moment and has been compared to a young Nadal. 

Alcaraz, who is still just 18 years old, won his first ATP 1000 title at the Miami Open last week and is considered one of the favourites to win this year’s French Open. 

"Shout out, [Carlos] Alcaraz, because he's killing it. I just think that knowing I'm still a student and I have to keep learning, clay and grass is something I really want to tackle this year. So I'm willing kind of to do whatever it takes to get good results. Not that results are everything, but I really want to do well.” 

Osaka confident of improving on clay 

Despite failing to reach beyond the third round of Roland-Garros so far in her career, Osaka is confident she can still improve on the surface. 

In the past, the former world number one has reached the quarter-finals in Rome and Madrid but has sometimes struggled with her court coverage. 

"I'm clearly not a clay expert, but I feel like if I get my movement together, I should be pretty good,” she said. 

“I grew up on green clay, being from here, so it shouldn't be that foreign to me. And I know Madrid, Sabalenka won that last year, so I think that there are opportunities for me to do well. 

“I think I just have to get my mentality together to know that every match would be a fight."

Return to form 

Osaka’s performance in Miami was her best showing at a tournament in more than a year and a clear sign that she is returning to form. 

The Japanese star was vocal in her struggles with depression last year and has now started seeing a therapist. 

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - MARCH 28: Naomi Osaka of Japan awaits the serve from Alison Riske of United States during the Women’s Singles match on Day 8 of the 2022 Miami Open presented by Itaú at Hard Rock Stadium on March 28, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)

Though she was unable to topple the impressive Swiatek, victories against Angelique Kerber, Danielle Collins and Belinda Bencic suggest she has rediscovered that winning touch. 

It will be a tough ask to continue this form on a surface she has historically struggled on, but Osaka appears more than ready for the challenge.