By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday August 29, 2024
New York—Naomi Osaka was unable to hold over her momentum from her first Prime-10 victory in over 4 years (in opposition to Jelena Ostapenko) in spherical one of many US Open, and he or she was knocked out of the second spherical by proficient Czech Karolina Muchova on Thursday night time in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The four-time main season finishes her Grand Slam season with a 3-4 file, and he or she was not shy about admitting that the loss was troublesome to abdomen, given how a lot work she has put in to make her comeback from maternity go away this season.
“It is somewhat tough as a result of I do take these losses actually personally,” she informed reporters after falling to the Czech 6-3, 7-6. “It is like a dramatic phrase, however I really feel like my coronary heart dies each time I lose. It sucks so much, however I have been making an attempt to be extra mature and be taught and discuss extra about them.”
Osaka has three set factors within the second set, serving at 5-4, 40-0, however obtained tight and blew her probability with some uncharacteristically unfastened play.
“I believe through the stress moments I obtained nervous, and I do not know if I simply need to maintain taking part in extra matches and get used to that feeling, particularly on a very huge stage,” she mentioned. “Actually, if I get previous the frustration, I really feel fairly pleased with myself to have gotten that many alternatives whereas nonetheless feeling like I might have performed a lot better.”
The 26-year-old drops to 17-16 total on the 12 months. She’s taken her rating from exterior of the Prime 800 all the way in which to 85, so issues are headed in the best course.
“Actually I really feel like I am getting back from being pregnant, but additionally it wasn’t like in 2022 I used to be like the most effective model of myself. So indirectly I needed to catch as much as that, after which additionally I am making an attempt to cross it on the similar time,” she mentioned. I do not know. It has been somewhat troublesome as a result of clearly I can solely gauge how I am doing by outcomes. Like, I really feel sooner. I really feel higher, however I misplaced within the second spherical. So it is somewhat tough.”
Osaka says she’s each annoyed that issues are taking longer than she anticipated to return collectively, and hopeful that she’s placing within the work, and getting higher step-by-step.
“Nonetheless in my mind I believe that I can win these tournaments,” she mentioned. “I really feel like ultimately it is going to all piece itself collectively. It may not be on the timeline that I would like it to be, however I believe it is going to come ultimately.”