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Naomi Osaka lost to Iga Swiatek (File Photo: Internet)
Tennis star Naomi Osaka showed her pride in her performance in the French Open 2024 second round match against Iga Swiatek despite suffering the loss. Notably, the 26-year-old gave it her full effort in the second round; however, she suffered a loss of 6-7 (1-7), 6-1, 5-7 against the world number one on court, Philippe Chatrier, on May 29. Four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka frequently placed Swiatek under pressure in the two-hour, fifty-seven-minute match; however, she was not able to cross the finish line when the defending champion entered the third round of the Roland Garros.
Meanwhile, Naomi Osaka was totally emotional and heartbroken after suffering the loss in the early rounds. However, she recalled watching Iga Swiatek at the French Open 2023 when she was pregnant. The 26-year-old star revealed that she would love to face world number one yet again in one of her favourite clays.
"I cried when I got off the court, but then, for me, I kind of realized that I was watching Iga win this tournament last year, and I was pregnant, and it was just my dream to be able to play her. So when I kind of think of it like that, I think I’m doing pretty well. I feel like I played her on her better surface. I’m a hard-court kid, so, I would love to play her on my surface and see what happens," Osaka said.
Although Osaka managed to break Swiatek's service on five occasions out of nine, she failed to advance to the third round of the Roland Garros women's singles event. However, the Japanese-born star said she has grown stronger since returning to court after becoming a mother.
I would just say I'm proud of the journey: Naomi Osaka
“You know I have my little book, right? In it today I just wrote: ‘I'm proud of you,” Osaka said.
“I think for me, like, saying that to myself, it gives me a lot of power, because ... sometimes I curse myself out in my head, and it's quite a negative feeling. I would just say I'm proud of the journey. Hopefully, it will get more and more positive,” Osaka said.