Naomi Osaka’s challenging season took another turn on Wednesday as she suffered a first-round defeat at Indian Wells, falling 6-4, 6-4 to Colombia's Camila Osorio. The four-time Grand Slam winner’s reaction was swift, taking to social media to express her disappointment.
Naomi Osaka’s apology to fans after tough loss
After the match, Osaka took to Threads, describing her performance as -
The worst match I’ve ever played in my life. She added, Wow, I’m so sorry to everyone who watched that.
Despite the defeat, her self-criticism seemed to come from a place of frustration, as the former world number one struggled to find her rhythm on the court.
A tough return after injury for Naomi Osaka
Speaking to reporters post-match, Osaka was somewhat less harsh on herself. This was her first match since being forced to retire from the Australian Open due to an abdominal injury, which had also impacted her performance in Auckland.
Reflecting on the loss, Osaka acknowledged -
I don’t think it was too good on my end
But highlighted the difficulties she faced, such as limited practice time and an inability to fully train her serve.
There were certain things that felt extremely off, because I could only start to practice serving after a certain amount of time, she explained.
Despite the loss, Osaka remained optimistic, adding,
Given the situation, it wasn’t that terrible. But I would have liked to win and continue playing the tournament.
Naomi Osaka: a positive mindset despite setback
While the defeat was disappointing, Osaka sought to find positives in her performance.
Firstly, I’m not injured, she said. I feel really good, which is, I guess, a positive to take out of this.
Reflecting on her earlier successes in 2023, including a WTA final appearance, she admitted it felt like a "stopping/starting again" moment.
Her struggles with consistency were evident during the match, as she struggled to control her shots, which left her with -
not a good feeling whenever I would try to hit the balls that I feel like would normally go in.
Nevertheless, she had her opportunities, including break points in the final game that Osorio managed to save.
Despite the tough loss, Osaka seemed at peace with the setback, drawing from her experience with inconsistency last year.
When I think about last year, I feel completely fine right now because it just feels like a little bump in the road, she said,
Displaying resilience and a clear mindset moving forward.
Osaka’s fans can look forward to her return to action in Miami later this month, where she will continue her pursuit of a successful comeback.