“My heart dies every time I lose” – Naomi Osaka’s emotional remark after second round loss in US Open
The Japanese pro lost to Karolina Muchova in straight sets on Thursday
Naomi Osaka
(Credit: Chryslene Caillaud / Panoramic)
Naomi Osaka’s return to the US Open ended with a disappointing loss in the second round as Karolina Muchova, from the Czech Republic, defeated the former world No 1 6-3, 7-6 (5) at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Thursday.
Osaka, the world No 88, played against No 10 seed Jelena Ostapenko in the opening round and registered a convincing 6-3, 6-2 win. This was notably her first match in Flushing Meadows since 2022 as she missed the 2023 event on maternity break, and winning it brought her the tears of joy and relief.
She took the court against Muchova on Thursday with the aim of securing a place in the third round but struggled to get going. The Czech broke her twice in the first set to take the lead, hitting 12 winners.
Osaka offered more resistance in the second set, breaking her opponent in the crucial ninth game. She then served for the match only to throw away three set points, courtesy of a misfiring forehand and a double fault.
The set went into a tiebreak that seesawed with the Japanese securing two mini-breaks. However, Muchova edged ahead with three to advance after an intriguing 90-minute battle.
“This match was just so different from my match with Ostapenko,” Osaka, a two-time US Open champion said in her post-match press conference. “I didn’t feel like I was playing as perfectly as before, but I don’t think you can play perfectly every match. I’m not too sure. I think during the pressure moments I got nervous.”
“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.”
Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka reflects on her Grand Slam journery in 2024: “I enjoyed them all”
The match concluded Naomi Osaka’s Grand Slam journey for the 2024 season. It all began with a first-round outing at the Australian Open in January, where she lost to Caroline Garcia(6-4, 7-6 (2)). A few months later, she came critically close to knocking out world No 1 Iga Swiatek out of the French Open in the second round.
In July, she entered Wimbledon contention for the first time in five years and picked up a win before losing to American Emma Navarro (6-4, 6-1) in the second round.
“Honestly, I enjoyed them all. I think this year for me has been a learning year,” Osaka continued in the presser. “I put a lot of energy and effort into all the tournaments that I played. Australian Open was so fast, so I probably forgot that one. I enjoyed learning how to enjoy the French Open. I haven’t been to Wimbledon in years, so it was nice to go back there. Obviously the US Open is very special to me, so I enjoyed it here too.”
Osaka notably has four Grand Slam championships to her name from her triumphs at the Australian Open in 2019 and 2021, and at the US Open in 2018 and 2020.
