Struggling Osaka aims to break slump ahead of Pan Pacific Open

Tennis star Naomi Osaka admis she has gone through "more down than up" in her career this year, as she tries to break out of a slump at The Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo this week.

"It's kind of hard at first, just because I feel like I should be somewhere where I am obviously currently not.

But I think... I don't know.

I feel like for me it's more about being at peace with myself.

Like I know that I am here for a reason." The former world number one and four-time Grand Slam champion has plummeted to 48 in the women's tennis world rankings after a wretched run that has seen her crash out in the first round of her last three tournaments.

The Japanese 24-year-old has not won a title since last year's Australian Open and has been hampered this season with injury.