After her US Open comeback ended in a second-round loss to Karolina Muchova, two-time champion Naomi Osaka said that every loss feels like her heart dying.
Osaka was absent from the competition in the previous year due to the birth of her daughter Shai. After more than four years, the 26-year-old’s top-10 triumph came in the first round against Jelena Ostapenko.
She talked about it after the recent loss and said: “It’s a little rough because I do take these losses really personally. It’s like a dramatic word, but I feel like my heart dies every time I lose. I’ve been trying to be more mature and learn and talk more about them.”
Osaka, who also took home the titles in 2019 and 2021 at the Australian Open, mentioned not feeling like her true self since returning from maternity leave in a speech given just before the US Open.
After withdrawing from the French Open and Wimbledon in the second round this year, she failed to advance past the first round of the Australian Open. She rejoined the WTA Tour in January, but she has not advanced past the quarterfinals of any event.
Irrespective of the early withdrawals, the four-time major winner declared that 2024 had been a learning year.
She added: “It’s been a little difficult because obviously I can only gauge how I’m doing by results. Like, I feel faster. I feel better, but I lost in the second round. So it’s a little rough. But, also, it’s been fun playing a lot of tournaments. It’s been a commitment for sure, but I’ve been able to go to different cities that I’ve never been to.”
Naomi Osaka in 2024
LWLWLWLLWL Now the world no.88, the Japanese played her last match on the 29th of August when she lost to world no.52 Karolina Muchova 6-3 7-6(5) in the 2nd round of the U.S. Open (draw).
At present, during this year Naomi has achieved a compiled 19-17 record.
Naomi Osaka will square off with the world no.723 Anna Danilina in the . In the past, they have never played each other till now in top competitions.
Osaka won 7 titles in her career: all of them conquered on hard courts. (See the list of her titles)
Naomi Osaka |
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