Tennis aficionados, let’s take a moment to recall a bit of sports history. Who was the first woman to claim victory in her first four Grand Slam finals after Monica Seles did so in 1991? That honor goes to none other than Naomi Osaka. Her most recent major victory was at the 2021 AO, where she effortlessly outplayed Jennifer Brady in the final. Despite her incredible performance at the Rod Laver Arena, Osaka has since experienced a four-year dry spell, failing to add another trophy to her collection. Her recent loss at Indian Wells seemed to signify the dwindling of a once vibrant flame. Still, as a testimony to her resilient spirit, the former world No.1 refuses to let the past overshadow her future. She chooses to demonstrate grace and optimism, sharing an inspiring message to her fans after her recent disappointment. But what precisely did she say?
Osaka found herself in a tough spot right from the get-go during her match against the unseeded Camila Osorio from Colombia in R128 of the Indian Wells. Despite her initial struggle, she managed to fend off breakpoints in the third game. However, a critical break in the ninth game at 4-4 handed the first set to Osorio with a 6-4 score. The second set began with even more challenges for Osaka, who was broken in the very first game. She managed to break back and held her ground until 3-3, but yet another break shifted the game in Osorio’s favor. Osaka demonstrated her fighting spirit by saving a match point in the ninth game, forcing Osorio to serve it out.
Facing immense pressure, the two-time US Open winner had four opportunities to break back in the final game, but to no avail. The Colombian seized her first match point, securing her victory and handing Osaka another bitter defeat in the 2025 season. Following the match, where Osaka made a staggering 51 unforced errors, she took to social media to express her disappointment and frustration.
In her message, the 27-year-old athlete confessed, “The worst match I’ve ever played in my life. Wow, I’m sorry to everyone who watched that.” Despite her disappointment, she quickly found the strength to move on, sharing an uplifting message with her supporters, “Got a lot of joy in me.”
2025 has been a rocky year for Osaka, with her Indian Wells defeat being her first official loss of the season. She had previously retired from two matches this year, one at the ASB Classic and another at the Happy Slam after losing the first set to Belinda Bencic.
Further complicating matters, an abdominal injury forced her to withdraw from the Middle East swing. Her return to the BNP Paribas Open, where she was the 2018 champion, was thus a pivotal moment. However, her first-round exit was a significant setback. Despite her struggles, Osaka remained open and honest about her journey, balancing her disappointment with a steadfast resolve to bounce back.
The path back to the pinnacle of tennis has not been smooth for Naomi Osaka. She has had to contend with injuries, mental health breaks, and even a hiatus from the sport to welcome her daughter, Shai. Nonetheless, she started 2025 eager to make a statement with her performances. She reached the Auckland final in her first tournament of the season but had to retire due to an abdominal injury while leading against Danish Clara Tauson.
Carrying that momentum into the Melbourne major, she delivered notable victories over Caroline Garcia and Karolina Muchova before suffering another setback: a retirement due to injury in the third round against Belinda Bencic. Her campaign at Indian Wells also ended in disappointment, adding to an already tumultuous season. Despite her visible disappointment, Osaka did not shy away from discussing her challenges after her defeat at the Indian Wells.
Speaking about her performance, she said, “I do think I did well in Australia. It feels like a little bit of a stopping/starting again. So I think it would have been really helpful to play more matches coming into this tournament, but obviously I couldn’t. Like, there were certain things that felt extremely off because I could only start practice serving after a certain amount of time and stuff like that. So I think given the situation, it wasn’t that terrible, but I would have liked to win and continue playing the tournament.”
Following her loss, Osaka’s ranking in the WTA dropped from 56th to 61st. The question now is, will she be able to rebound in her next tournament? Only time will tell.
