By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday 29 August 2024
new york –Naomi Osaka was unable to sustain her momentum from her first Top-10 win in more than four years (against Jelena Ostapenko) in the first round of the US Open, and she was eliminated in the second round by the talented Czech . Karolina Muchova on Thursday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The four-time major ends her Grand Slam season with a 3-4 record, and she wasn’t shy about admitting that the loss was tough to take, given how much work she’s put in to come back from her layoff. maternity this season. .
“It’s a little tough because I take these losses really personally,” she told reporters after falling to the Czech 6-3, 7-6. “It’s like a dramatic word, but I feel like my heart dies every time I lose. It’s too bad, but I’ve tried to be more mature and learn and talk more about them.”
Osaka has three set points in the second set, serving at 5-4, 40-0, but tightens up and blows her chance with an uncharacteristically loose game.
“I think during the moments of pressure I got nervous and I don’t know if I should continue to play more matches and get used to that feeling, especially on a really big stage,” she said. “Honestly, if I get past the disappointment, I’m very proud of myself for getting so many opportunities, while I feel like I could have played a lot better.”
The 26-year-old drops to 17-16 overall on the year. She has moved her ranking from outside the Top 800 to 85, so things are moving in the right direction.
“Honestly, I feel like I’m coming back from pregnancy, but it’s also not like I was the best version of myself in 2022. So I’ve kind of had to achieve that, and then I’m trying to get through it at the same time,” she said. I don’t know. It’s been a little bit difficult because obviously I can appreciate how I’m doing. just done by the results. Like, I feel better, but I lost in the second round.”
Osaka says she’s both frustrated that things are taking longer than she expected to come together and hopes she’s doing the work and getting better step by step.
“Still in my head I think I can win these tournaments,” she said. “I feel like everything is finally coming together. It might not be in the time frame that I want it to be, but I think it will come eventually.”
