Naomi Osaka's US Open Exit in Second Round to Karolína Muchová

Former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka's campaign at this year’s US Open ended in the second round with a 6-3, 7-6(5) loss to Karolína Muchová. While Osaka had previously triumphed at Flushing Meadows in 2018 and 2020, this season has been a struggle for her after returning from maternity leave earlier this year. She missed last year’s tournament due to giving birth to her daughter.

Reflecting on her defeat, Osaka expressed that such losses feel deeply personal for her. "It’s a little rough because I do take these losses really personally," she admitted, likening the feeling to her "heart dying" with each loss. "I think during the pressure moments, I got nervous. Maybe I need to keep playing more matches to get used to that feeling on a big stage," she added. Despite the disappointment, Osaka took some pride in her efforts, feeling she had many opportunities despite not performing her best.

Their match was a tightly contested affair. During the first set, the players combined for only eight unforced errors. Muchová broke Osaka’s serve in the seventh game and ended up winning five successive games, putting her in a commanding position. Osaka managed to tie the second set at 1-1, but it wasn’t enough. In the second set, after breaking Muchová's serve, Osaka had three set points to force a deciding third set but lost them, entering into a tie-break ultimately taken by Muchová.

Muchová shared insights into her strategy, emphasizing the importance of staying focused and serving well against Osaka's formidable serve. This win was significant for Muchová, who is defending a high number of ranking points after a semifinal appearance last year. Despite injuries that curtailed her activity this season, leading her ranking to drop to No. 52, she demonstrated strong resolve in this match.

Meanwhile, the loss for Osaka highlighted her challenging season. Despite glimpses of her old form, including a first-round win against 10th seed Jelena Ostapenko, she expressed mixed feelings about her performance. "I feel faster, I feel better, but I lost in the second round, which is rough. But it’s been fun playing in different tournaments and cities," explained Osaka, framing it as a "learning year."

Osaka's disappointment was palpable as she quickly exited the court after the match, showing no visible emotion despite a tough second-round departure. This marked a contrast to her emotional tears of pride after her first-round win. Her main goal remains improvement, even as her journey since taking a mental health break in 2021 and missing significant time in 2023 due to pregnancy continues to challenge her.

As Muchová advances to face Anastasia Potapova in the third round, Osaka remains a beloved figure at the US Open. Fans eagerly anticipate her return next year, hopeful for her to find happiness and success both on and off the court.

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Earlier, SSP wrote that Jonnie Peacock aimed for third paralympic gold at Paris 2024.