Naomi Osaka, a two-time champion, expressed the emotional toll of defeat, stating, “It’s like my heart dies every time I lose,” following her second-round loss to Karolina Muchova at the US Open.
Osaka, who won in 2018 and 2020, skipped last year’s tournament due to the birth of her daughter Shai.
Despite securing a significant victory over Jelena Ostapenko in the first round, the 26-year-old was unable to overcome Muchova, falling 6-3 7-6 (7-5) after missing three set points to extend the match.
Reflecting on the loss, she shared, “It’s a little rough because I do take these losses really personally.”
Osaka acknowledged her efforts to approach defeats with maturity and a willingness to learn from them.
Osaka, who clinched the Australian Open titles in 2019 and 2021, opened up about feeling disconnected from her body since returning from maternity leave.
Despite her return to the WTA Tour in January, she faced setbacks, exiting tournaments early, including the second round at Wimbledon and the French Open this year, and a first-round defeat at the Australian Open.
Reflecting on her performance in 2024, the four-time major champion described it as a “learning year.”
She shared, “It’s been a little difficult because, obviously, I can only gauge how I’m doing by results.”
Osaka acknowledged feeling improvements in her game despite the outcomes, emphasizing the challenges and rewards of competing in various cities for the first time.
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