Osaka’s Olympic run ended in the first round with a straight-set loss to Angelique Kerber.
Naomi Osaka didn’t sound very negative or pessimistic after losing very early at the Paris Olympics but admitted that maybe she needs “to learn how to win again” against good players on the biggest stage.
Even while Osaka was pregnant last year, the 26-year-old said making the Paris Olympics and doing well there would be one of her big goals since she wants to win a medal before retiring.
But on Saturday evening in Paris, former world No. 1 Osaka saw her campaign in the first round after retiring Angelique Kerber handed the Japanese a 7-5 6-3 loss.
Although Kerber is a three-time Grand Slam champion and a former world No. 1, the 36-year-old German entered the Osaka clash on a five-match losing streak and the Japanese was regarded as the favorite. But in the end, a good result on the big stage didn’t happen for Osaka at this year’s Olympics.
“I guess I need to learn how to win again. Maybe that’s something I forgot how to do. Maybe I have to keep playing matches against really good players to relearn that,” Osaka said.
With Kerber up by a set and having a 4-3 second-set lead, Osaka turned her left leg and she was given a painkiller. After that, Osaka lost the eighth and ninth games as Kerber went on to complete her straight-set win.
Later, the Japanese was asked to reveal the state of her leg.
“I don’t know, because I took a painkiller, so when it wears off, I’ll let you know. It felt like I hyperextended (it) a little bit. I felt a pinch while I was playing, but I hope I’m still pretty young, so maybe it won’t be that bad.”
Osaka believes she definitely could have done better against Kerber
Osaka actually made a good start to the match, breaking Kerber early for an early 3-1 lead. But unfortunately for Osaka, her lead was very short-lived as Kerber got the break back in the fifth game and broke the Japanese again in the 12th game to seal the first set.
Through the opening six games of the second set, not a single break point was seen. Then, the German earned back-to-back breaks in the seventh and ninth games to seal the deal.
In her press, Osaka admitted that she felt more pressure when she was competing at the Tokyo Olympics a couple of years ago and noted that she probably could have done better against Kerber.
“I felt more pressure in Tokyo. I honestly felt like I could have done better today,” Osaka admitted.
Also, Osaka – whose serving abilities are well-documented – revealed that she wasn’t happy with how her serve looked against Kerber.
“I feel like my serve could have been a lot better. When I was practicing, I felt the same way. But I feel like that’s never an excuse to lose,” Osaka said.
What Kerber said after beating Osaka?
By beating Osaka, Kerber won their last meeting and also set a 5-2 head-to-head versus the 26-year-old Japanese. But that didn’t prevent Kerber from showing major respect for Osaka and calling her “a great champion.”
“To win a match like this against Naomi, who is such a great champion — that means a lot, especially because it’s my last tournament. It shows me that I can still beat the top players. I just tried to enjoy every moment. I’m just looking forward to having another dance,” Kerber said after the match.
Meanwhile, Kerber is now guaranteed to play at least one more singles match before retiring as she plays next against Jaqueline Cristian.
On Thursday – just before the Paris Olympics draw was released – Kerber announced that she would be ending her pro tennis journey after the Olympics.
“The finish line. Before the @Olympics begin, I can already say that I will never forget #Paris2024, because it will be my last professional tournament as a tennis player. And whereas this might actually be the right decision, it will never feel that way. Simply because I love the sport with all my heart and I’m thankful for the memories and opportunities it has given me,” Kerber announced on Instagram on Thursday.
“The Olympics, I’ve participated in so far, have been more than just competitions as they represent different chapters of my life as a tennis player: the climb, the peak… and now, the finish line.”
When Kerber and 61st-ranked Cristian meet, it will be their first meeting. On paper, it doesn’t look like the worst of the matchups for Kerber but the German certainly won’t take the Romanian for granted after she upset Caroline Garcia in the first round.
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