Naomi Osaka despondent after French Open first-round exit
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Naomi Osaka of Japan stretches to play a backhand during her French Open first-round match against Paula Badosa of Spain.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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PARIS – Naomi Osaka has said that she “hates disappointing people” after sliding to a tough three-set loss to Spanish 10th seed Paula Badosa in the first round of the French Open on May 26.
The four-time Grand Slam champion saved a set point in the opening set before dominating the tiebreak, but Badosa ran away with the second set to force a decider.
Osaka regrouped and broke early for a 2-0 lead only for Badosa to quickly pull level, landing the crucial break in the seventh game on her way to a 6-7 (1-7), 6-1, 6-4 win.
“It was a tough match,” said Japanese star Osaka, who suffered an agonising loss to eventual champion Iga Swiatek in last season’s second round, having held a match point.
“I think as time goes on, I feel like I should be doing better.”
The former world No. 1 is now working with Patrick Mouratoglou, who was Serena Williams’ long-time coach.
Osaka won a lower-level title on clay earlier in May and is back in the top 50, but she is still fighting to return to the sport’s upper echelons.
“I hate disappointing people,” added a visibly emotional Osaka.
“So, like, even with Patrick... I was thinking this just now, but he goes from working with, like, the greatest player ever to, like... this? You know what I mean?”
Osaka, who had in the past spoke of her mental health issues in public, did not play in 2023 due to the birth of her daughter and struggled for consistency after returning to the professional circuit last season.
But the 27-year-old had the second round in her sights after taking a one-set lead over Badosa, whose injury problems had limited her to two matches on clay in the build-up to Roland Garros.
However, she paid the price for a slew of unforced errors – at 54, twice as many as her opponent.
Osaka has been wearing flower-inspired outfits in 2025 and unveiled cherry blossom-themed shoes for Roland Garros, with a kit to match.
She took a medical timeout between the first and second sets, during which she trimmed her floral nails before later explaining that a blister issue from Rome had resurfaced.
“Since Rome, I have had, like, blisters on my hands. I think it’s like from the friction of clay, because I don’t have blisters on any other surface,” she said.
Badosa won the first five games of the second set and said she drew inner strength from a famous compatriot as she completed a comeback win, and will next face Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse.
“I have to say that when I was 7-6 down, the first thing I did was to look over there,” said Badosa, pointing to Rafael Nadal’s footprint carved into the Philippe-Chatrier court, which was unveiled during his farewell ceremony on May 25.
“To get inspiration from Rafa. I’m like ‘Come on Paula, you have to fight like he did’.” AFP, REUTERS
