TENNIS: Osaka finds peace in defeat as Sabalenka ends Paris run

PARIS — A few years ago, a defeat on a Grand Slam stage might have sent Naomi Osaka spiraling into self-doubt and isolation.

Today, after years marked by mental health struggles, extended breaks from tennis, and the life-altering experience of motherhood, the former Japanese world number one walked away from Roland Garros with a positive perspective instead of pain.

Osaka’s French Open campaign ended on Monday with a 7-5, 6-3 fourth-round defeat by top seed Aryna Sabalenka. However, the 28-year-old left Paris describing herself as “enlightened” and at peace with the emotional swings that once consumed her career.

“I would be very, very disappointed in myself after matches like these,” Osaka told reporters. “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.”

Shifted Priorities

The four-time Grand Slam champion—who previously opened up about her struggles with depression and anxiety—returned to the tour in 2024 following the birth of her daughter. She noted that her priorities have fundamentally shifted beyond mere results and rankings.

“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.”

Osaka arrived in Paris with modest expectations on clay, a surface that has historically troubled her. Yet, she produced her best run at Roland Garros by reaching the fourth round for the first time.

While Sabalenka’s relentless power eventually proved too much under the lights of Court Philippe Chatrier, Osaka emphasized that she no longer views defeats as defining moments.

“I kind of realized that it doesn't matter at all,” she said. “The only thing I can keep doing is keep trying my best.”

An Evolving Relationship with the Game

Osaka’s relationship with tennis has evolved sharply since her 2021 withdrawal from the French Open, when she disclosed that she had suffered “long bouts of depression” and criticized the tournament’s media obligations. At the time, her vulnerability triggered a global conversation across the sports world regarding athlete mental health and media pressure.

On Monday night, however, Osaka spoke candidly about the emotional recalibration that motherhood has brought her.

“Honestly, like, hitting a ball doesn't really matter on earth, kind of,” she said with a smile.

The Japanese player said she was encouraged by her physical condition after a demanding clay-court campaign. She hopes her progress on the surface will carry into the grass-court season, even as she admitted a slight reluctance to leave Paris just as she was finally beginning to feel comfortable on the dirt.

“I have to take the positives from it,” she said. “I played three really good matches.”

A Prime-Time Milestone

Osaka also welcomed the decision to schedule her match against Sabalenka in the night session. This marked the first time in three years that a women’s contest was featured in the tournament's prime-time slot.

She expressed hope that organizers would continue to give women a prominent place in the tournament’s showcase window.

“I am honored that the tournament chose us to play in this slot,” she said. “I hope that going forward they will continue to do so.”

-Reporting by Julien Pretot; editing by Pritha Sarkar/Reuters