Naomi Osaka said she felt "ungrateful" at points in the last year for being unable to appreciate her success.
The world number two was speaking after beating American teenager Coco Gauff at the Cincinnati Open on Wednesday.
She also discussed her reasons for withdrawing from the French Open in May, having said on the eve of that tournament that speaking to the media was damaging her mental health.
"I wonder what affected me... made me not want to do media?" she said.
"[Maybe] I was scared of bad headlines.
"I should feel like I'm winning, having people come to watch me is an accomplishment.