Naomi Osaka did not hide her displeasure after being eliminated in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon by Karolina Muchova, admitting that the defeat “is a bit more frustrating” than others, but she left the All England Club with renewed confidence that a new Grand Slam title is within her reach. The former world number one, who had her best-ever campaign at Wimbledon, chose to highlight the positive lessons learned from the tournament rather than the result itself.
Osaka, 29, bid farewell to London after losing 6-7(4), 4-6 to Muchova, concluding a journey highlighted by her victory in the round of 16 against world number 1 Aryna Sabalenka. This win was not only Osaka's first career victory over a top-10 opponent on grass but also marked her 15th triumph against a player of that caliber. Wimbledon represented another significant chapter in Osaka's return to the spotlight, following a challenging hiatus from tennis due to mental health issues and motherhood, having welcomed her daughter Shai in 2023.
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Reaching the quarter-finals was only the second time Osaka has made it to this stage of a major since her title win at the Australian Open in 2021. After also reaching the semi-finals at last year's US Open, the Japanese player believes that recent results prove she still has what it takes to compete with the best in the world.
In a press conference, Osaka explained that her frustration over being eliminated at Wimbledon stems more from the feeling of having missed an opportunity than from the defeat itself. “I know my results don’t show it. But whenever I play a Slam, my goal is to win,” she stated. “Last year I reached the semifinals and I desperately wanted to be in the final to have that opportunity. But Amanda (Anisimova) played incredibly.” She added, “Honestly, I wasn’t even upset that she won. This loss is a bit more frustrating because I feel like I could have done so much more.”
Despite the disappointment, Osaka emphasizes seeing Wimbledon as evidence of her ongoing progress. “I think I should maybe find the positive side, because I reached the quarter-finals and I feel like I still have a lot to grow as a player. So in my mind, I think there’s still the opportunity to win a Slam.”
The Japanese player also highlighted a shift in her mindset regarding grass, as she had never previously advanced beyond the third round at the All England Club. Her victory over Sabalenka and reaching the quarter-finals have given her a new boost for the rest of the season. “This clearly gave me a confidence boost. Getting this far, even to a final on grass, is really encouraging,” emphasized the four-time Grand Slam champion.
Osaka also acknowledged that fatigue had a negative impact on her match against Muchova, following a busier schedule than usual ahead of Wimbledon. “I realized it was going to happen because I played many more matches than I usually do before a Slam and wanted to try this rhythm. It went well, but I probably won’t do it again. It was two weeks in a row without a day off,” she admitted.
Regarding physical issues, she clarified that it was not an ankle injury, but rather plantar fasciitis in her feet. “It started in last year’s preseason. Maybe because I’m more explosive in my movements now. I think it flared up on the grass because I have to push more forward. I don’t think it will bother me on hard courts; it might have just been due to the surface change.”
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When asked about the heat at Wimbledon, Osaka surprised by saying that the high temperatures would have actually benefited her game. “If it had been hotter, I probably would have won, I won’t lie. When it’s really hot, it seems to activate my superpowers. I prefer it that way.”
Now, the Japanese player is turning her attention to the hard court season, where she usually performs best. “I hope that, upon returning to hard courts, which is my favorite surface, I can learn a lot and apply it to become a more complete player,” Osaka concluded.
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