Naomi Osaka had an impressive start to the US Open 2024. But this success was unfortunately fleeting Thursday evening at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Osaka continued her first-round upset of No. 10 seed Jelena Ostapenko on Tuesday by losing to Karolina Muchova in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6 (5). Muchova, who advanced to the semi-finals of the US Open last year, dominated Osaka with her forehand in the first set and appeared to be on the verge of a tough but quick victory.
However, Osaka fought back in the second set to force a tiebreaker in the second and it looked like the crowd support might push her to extend the match to a third set.
Yet she squandered a 40-0 lead early in the set, making several crucial errors on returns that allowed Muchova to rally and equalize. Osaka showed her frustration by bouncing her racket on the court. Having found new life, Muchova returned with powerful serves and forehands that Osaka could not overcome, while seemingly covering every corner of the court.
Osaka won the US Open in 2018 and 2020 and remains extremely popular with fans. She entertained the crowd and social media with her elegant outfits punctuated with bows on the back of her jacket, top and shoes. Her first-round win over Ostapenko showed she was returning to the player she was before taking a mental health break in 2021.
Osaka’s play has been inconsistent since then, as she has fallen in the world rankings. Last year, she withdrew from the Australian Open, announcing she was pregnant with her first child. As was to be expected, it was difficult to get back into optimal shape, both physically and mentally.
“I don’t feel like I’m in my body,” she said earlier this month in an Instagram post. “It’s a strange feeling, missing balls I shouldn’t miss, hitting balls softer than I remembered.”
Osaka acknowledged this struggle after beating Ostapenko, crying into a towel.
Naomi Osaka: “During times of pressure, I became nervous.” Suggests the solution may be to play more matches #USOpen2024
– Jake Nisse (@jakenisse) August 30, 2024
Expecting Osaka to advance far in this year’s tournament may have been too much, but defeating a top 10 player for the first time in four years and showing a powerful serve demonstrated that she is still capable of ‘an excellent game. Speaking to journalistsshe admitted to feeling nervous, which could be resolved by playing more from now on.
Muchova will face Anastasia Potapova in the third round. Potapova beat Varvara Lepchenko in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4.
