Naomi Osaka’s 2026 US Open came to an end at the hands of Elena Rybakina. Surprisingly the superstar was quite upbeat despite her defeat, and she explained why.
Naomi Osaka’s search for a first Grand Slam title since 2021 will continue into 2027. The 28-year-old superstar crashed out of the US Open in the Round of 16.
Osaka surprisingly did not put up much of a fight during her match against the world No. 2 ranked Elena Rybakina. This year’s Australian Open winner took care of Osaka in straight sets, winning 6-1, 6-4.
One might expect the disappointment to be great in the face of such a loss. However, the Japanese star was fairly level in defeat, and opened up on why she is not as sad as some might expect.
Naomi Osaka claims she isn’t disappointed after her loss and provides family perspective
Tennis at the highest level can be brutal and mentally tough for the competitors. Osaka herself has dealt with serious disappointment in her career. However, she said her family is giving her the perspective to handle defeat better.
“I think I’m happy I’m taking losses differently. I’m trying to learn from them a lot more. Today if I was to say I’m sad, I was sad that I couldn’t push off on my foot. I’m sad I couldn’t do what I set out to do,” Osaka said.
“But for me if I think about my life, my daughter is healthy. Everyone in my family is great. I had an opportunity to play this Slam. I got as far as I could. It’s only up from here I guess.
“I’m honestly not disappointed now. It’s a very strange feeling. Maybe I’m just getting older, but I don’t feel sad.”
This is a mature take from Osaka, even if it might not be what her fans want to hear. Perhaps this newfound perspective will allow her to be better-equipped to mentally handle future tournaments.
Read more: