Naomi Osaka reflected on her shock second-round defeat at the US Open on Thursday night.
The Japanese tennis player and two-time US Open champion lost to seeded Karolina Muchova at Arthur Ashe.
It is Osaka’s third straight second-round defeat at a Grand Slam tournament in the 2024 season after missing the entire 2023 season due to the birth of her daughter.
After the defeat, Osaka spoke about how her heart “dies” every time she loses – and how the defeat to Muchova was no exception.
“I don’t know. Honestly, it feels like I’m coming back from a pregnancy, but it wasn’t like I was the best version of myself in 2022,” Osaka reflected.
Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka opened up after her second round loss at the US Open
The two-time US Open champion lost to Czech star Karolina Muchova on Arthur Ashe
‘So I had to catch up somehow, but at the same time I’m trying to get it.
‘I don’t know. It’s been a bit difficult because of course I can only go by the results.
“Like, I feel faster. I feel better, but I lost in the second round. So it’s a little bit difficult.
“But it was also fun to play a lot of tournaments. It was definitely a commitment, but I got to visit different cities that I had never been to before.
‘I really enjoyed Doha. I haven’t been there, so — well, I have been there, but I don’t know, it was fun to go there.
“Yeah, it’s a little harsh because I take these losses really personally. It’s a dramatic word, but I feel like my heart dies every time I lose.
“It’s very annoying, but I’m trying to be more mature, learn more about it and talk about it more.”
Unseeded Osaka opened her US Open streak on Tuesday with a straight sets win over 10th-seeded Jelena Ostapenko before losing to Muchova.