Former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka’s run at this year’s US Open ended in the second round with a 6-3, 7-6(5) defeat to the Czech Republic’s Karolína Muchová on Thursday.
omi Osaka, who has previously triumphed at Flushing Meadows with US Open titles in 2018 and 2020, has faced challenges this season since returning from maternity leave. After missing last year’s tournament due to the birth of her daughter, Osaka has struggled to find her top form.
In a recent post-match interview, Osaka discussed the emotional toll of her losses. “It’s a bit rough because I take these losses very personally,” she admitted. “It might sound dramatic, but it feels like my heart breaks every time I lose. I’m working on being more mature and learning from these experiences by talking about them more.”
Osaka acknowledged the difficulty of handling pressure during crucial moments. “I think I get nervous during high-pressure situations, and I’m not sure if I just need to play more matches to become accustomed to that feeling, especially on such a big stage. Although I’m disappointed, I’m still proud of how many opportunities I’ve had and the progress I’ve made, even if I feel I could have played better.”
In her recent match, Muchová managed to break Osaka’s formidable serve in the seventh game of a tightly contested first set. Both players combined for only eight unforced errors, highlighting the intensity and precision of the encounter.
Muchová secured another break in the final game of the set and then held her serve to start the second set, making it five consecutive games won. Despite having three break points in the second game, Osaka fought back to level the score at 1-1.
The set remained on serve until the ninth game, when Osaka managed to break and take a 5-4 lead, putting her in position to force a decisive third set. However, she couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity, missing three set points and allowing Muchová to break back.
The match proceeded to a tie-break where Naomi Osaka fought hard, saving two match points. However, she couldn’t hold off the resilient Muchová for long and ultimately hit a forehand wide on the third match point, sealing Muchová’s victory.
This win was particularly significant for Muchová, who is defending a substantial number of ranking points after her semifinal appearance at the tournament last year. Her performance then propelled her to a career-high world No. 8 ranking, but injuries since have caused her ranking to drop significantly. She is currently ranked No. 52 and has only competed in a few tournaments this season.
After the match, Muchová reflected on her performance, saying, “I was really focused out there. I know she’s an amazing player, so I had to bring my A-game to have a chance. I concentrated on my own game and knew I needed to serve well since her serve is also strong. Staying locked in and focused was key for me.”
For Osaka, the loss was a tough blow in what has been a challenging season. Despite the setback, she found some positives and labeled the season as a “learning year.” “I feel faster and better, but losing in the second round is tough,” said the 26-year-old. “It’s been a rough season, but I’ve enjoyed playing in many tournaments and visiting new cities I’ve never been to before.”
