Osaka finds peace in defeat as Sabalenka ends Paris run

Naomi Osaka concluded her French Open campaign with a sense of peace, a stark contrast to the self-doubt that once plagued her after Grand Slam defeats. Losing to top seed Aryna Sabalenka in the fourth round, 7-5, 6-3, the Japanese star described herself as "enlightened" and content with the emotional journey, a significant evolution following years of mental health challenges, extended breaks, and motherhood.

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I would be very, very disappointed in myself after matches like these. If I lost this match when I was younger, I'd shut myself in my room or whatever. But now I feel like obviously I love tennis, and I'm trying my best to do everything to be the best player I can.

"If I lost this match when I was younger, I'd shut myself in my room or whatever," Osaka told reporters. "But now I feel like obviously I love tennis, and I'm trying my best to do everything to be the best player I can." The four-time Grand Slam champion, who returned to tennis in 2024 after the birth of her daughter, emphasized a shift in priorities, where personal fulfillment now outweighs rankings and results. "It's kind of like a clock in/clock out type of thing," she said. "I'm excited to go home and see my daughter. Honestly, that's kind of the happiest moments of life for me."

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I'm excited to go home and see my daughter. Honestly, that's kind of the happiest moments of life for me.

Osaka arrived in Paris with modest expectations on clay, a surface that has historically challenged her. However, her fourth-round appearance marked her best performance at Roland Garros. While Sabalenka's powerful game ultimately prevailed, Osaka no longer views defeats as defining moments. "I kind of realised that it doesn't matter at all," she stated. "The only thing I can keep doing is keep trying my best."

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I kind of realised that it doesn't matter at all. The only thing I can keep doing is keep trying my best.

Her relationship with tennis has transformed significantly since her 2021 withdrawal from the French Open, where she disclosed her struggles with depression and criticized media obligations. At that time, her openness sparked a wider discussion on athlete mental health. Now, Osaka speaks openly about the emotional recalibration brought by motherhood. "Honestly, like, hitting a ball doesn't really matter on earth, kind of," she said with a smile. She found positives in her physical condition after the clay court season and hopes this progress will translate to the grass court season, despite her reluctance to leave Paris.

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Honestly, like, hitting a ball doesn't really matter on earth, kind of.