Latest news with #L'Open35deSaint-Malo
New York Post
26-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Naomi Osaka an emotional wreck after first-round exit in French Open
It was a rough outing at the French Open for Naomi Osaka. The former No. 1 player in the world bowed out in the first round with a loss to Paula Badosa on Monday — and her emotions spiraled a bit from there. 'As time goes on I feel like I should be doing better,' Osaka said with tears in her eyes following her match. 'I hate disappointing people.' Naomi Osaka won the first set against Paula Badosa but lost the next two. Susan Mullane-Imagn Images Osaka expanded on her disappointing people while referencing her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, who also coached Serena Williams in the past. '[Mouratoglou] goes from working with, like, the greatest player ever to, like, 'What the f–k is this?' You know what I mean?' Osaka said. 'Sorry for cursing. I hope I don't get fined.' The current No. 49 player, Osaka owns four Grand Slam trophies in her career. Osaka gave birth to her daughter in August 2023 and her return to the court has not gone as planned. She was on a four-year title drought before winning the L'Open 35 de Saint-Malo, a WTA 125 event held on clay courts in France, earlier this month. The win marked her first ever title on clay, which seemingly boded well for her chances entering the French Open which is also a clay tournament. But she was only able to win the first set of three against the 10th-seeded Badosa — and the clay seemed to affect her play. Osaka needed treatment for blisters after the first set and attributed them to 'the friction of clay, because I don't have blisters on any other surface.' She committed 54 unforced errors and finished with five double-faults. In 2021, Osaka withdrew from the French Open, experiencing 'huge waves of anxiety' and revealing that she was battling depression. Naomi Osaka was visibly frustrated against Paula Bardosa. Susan Mullane-Imagn Images Similar emotions arose after her devastating loss Monday. 'I don't necessarily know my grass-season schedule right now,' Osaka said after she briefly stepped away from the press conference overcome with emotion. 'I wasn't really expecting to lose in the first round.'
The Hindu
08-05-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Naomi Osaka inspired by Andre Agassi's comeback as she embraces clay court grind
Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka said this year's clay court swing feels different as she enters it with momentum, having picked up wins and confidence in the recent weeks. Osaka beat Slovenia's Kaja Juvan 6-1, 7-5 last week in the final of the L'Open 35 de Saint-Malo, a WTA 125 tournament, to win her first clay-court title at any level. It was also her first WTA title since becoming a mother in July 2023. 'I wanted to rack up experience on clay. I didn't really have too much of an ego playing that tournament,' Osaka told reporters after defeating wild card Sara Errani 6-2, 6-3 in the first round of the Italian Open on Wednesday. 'I'm okay playing on Court 16 if I have to anyways. The reason I came back wasn't to play on centre courts all the time, it's because I really enjoy the game.' READ | Sinner returns from doping ban to great fanfare at Italian Open Osaka said her decision to drop down to play in Saint-Malo was inspired by American great Andre Agassi, who rebuilt his career in the late 1990s by competing on the ATP Challenger Tour. 'I remember reading (Agassi's) book. There was a moment where... he was saying he was flipping his own scoreboards. Someone came and yelled, 'Image is everything!' I would say that section of the book crossed my mind more,' she said. The former world number one has often struggled on clay, having never gone past the third round at the French Open, where she is set to feature in the main draw later this month. Osaka plays ninth seed Paula Badosa in the Italian Open on Thursday. 'I feel like clay is very strength-reliant,' Osaka said. 'It's something that I prioritised this year and I think it's working. I'm going to keep pushing forward that way. I'll let you know what happens in Roland Garros.'
Straits Times
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Osaka inspired by Agassi as she embraces claycourt grind
FILE PHOTO: Tennis - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 7, 2025 Japan's Naomi Osaka in action during her round of 128 match against Italy's Sara Errani REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo Four-times Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka said this year's claycourt swing feels different as she enters it with momentum and confidence following a run of victories. Japan's Osaka beat Slovenian Kaja Juvan 6-1 7-5 last week in the final of the L'Open 35 de Saint-Malo, a WTA 125 tournament, to win her first claycourt title at any level. It was also her first WTA crown since becoming a mother in July 2023. "I wanted to rack up experience on clay. I didn't really have too much of an ego playing that tournament," Osaka told reporters after defeating wildcard Sara Errani 6-2 6-3 in the the Italian Open first round on Wednesday. "I'm okay playing on Court 16 if I have to anyways. The reason I came back wasn't to play on centre courts all the time, it's because I really enjoy the game." Osaka said her decision to play in Saint-Malo was inspired by American great Andre Agassi, who rebuilt his career in the late 1990s by competing on the ATP Challenger Tour. "I remember reading (Agassi's) book. There was a moment where... he was saying he was flipping his own scoreboards. Someone came and yelled, 'Image is everything!', I would say that section of the book crossed my mind more," she said. The former world number one has often struggled on clay, having never gone past the third round of the French Open, in which she is set to feature in the main draw this month. "I'm coming into it with a lot more wins. Obviously, I would say I'm a lot more comfortable on clay now... I feel like clay is very strength-reliant," she said. Osaka was set to face ninth seed Paula Badosa in the Italian Open on Thursday, but after the Spaniard withdrew due to injury, Osaka breezed past Swiss lucky loser Viktorija Golubic 6-2 6-3 for her sixth straight win on clay. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Mint
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Mint
Tennis-Osaka inspired by Agassi as she embraces claycourt grind
(Adds Badosa withdrawal and Osaka win) Four-times Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka said this year's claycourt swing feels different as she enters it with momentum and confidence following a run of victories. Japan's Osaka beat Slovenian Kaja Juvan 6-1 7-5 last week in the final of the L'Open 35 de Saint-Malo, a WTA 125 tournament, to win her first claycourt title at any level. It was also her first WTA crown since becoming a mother in July 2023. "I wanted to rack up experience on clay. I didn't really have too much of an ego playing that tournament," Osaka told reporters after defeating wildcard Sara Errani 6-2 6-3 in the the Italian Open first round on Wednesday. "I'm okay playing on Court 16 if I have to anyways. The reason I came back wasn't to play on centre courts all the time, it's because I really enjoy the game." Osaka said her decision to play in Saint-Malo was inspired by American great Andre Agassi, who rebuilt his career in the late 1990s by competing on the ATP Challenger Tour. "I remember reading (Agassi's) book. There was a moment where... he was saying he was flipping his own scoreboards. Someone came and yelled, 'Image is everything!', I would say that section of the book crossed my mind more," she said. The former world number one has often struggled on clay, having never gone past the third round of the French Open, in which she is set to feature in the main draw this month. "I'm coming into it with a lot more wins. Obviously, I would say I'm a lot more comfortable on clay now... I feel like clay is very strength-reliant," she said. Osaka was set to face ninth seed Paula Badosa in the Italian Open on Thursday, but after the Spaniard withdrew due to injury, Osaka breezed past Swiss lucky loser Viktorija Golubic 6-2 6-3 for her sixth straight win on clay. (Reporting by Shifa Jahan in Bengaluru; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Ed Osmond)
Hindustan Times
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Tennis-Osaka inspired by Agassi as she embraces claycourt grind
-Four-times Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka said this year's claycourt swing feels different as she enters it with momentum and confidence following a run of victories. Japan's Osaka beat Slovenian Kaja Juvan 6-1 7-5 last week in the final of the L'Open 35 de Saint-Malo, a WTA 125 tournament, to win her first claycourt title at any level. It was also her first WTA crown since becoming a mother in July 2023. "I wanted to rack up experience on clay. I didn't really have too much of an ego playing that tournament," Osaka told reporters after defeating wildcard Sara Errani 6-2 6-3 in the the Italian Open first round on Wednesday. "I'm okay playing on Court 16 if I have to anyways. The reason I came back wasn't to play on centre courts all the time, it's because I really enjoy the game." Osaka said her decision to play in Saint-Malo was inspired by American great Andre Agassi, who rebuilt his career in the late 1990s by competing on the ATP Challenger Tour. "I remember reading book. There was a moment where... he was saying he was flipping his own scoreboards. Someone came and yelled, 'Image is everything!', I would say that section of the book crossed my mind more," she said. The former world number one has often struggled on clay, having never gone past the third round of the French Open, in which she is set to feature in the main draw this month. "I'm coming into it with a lot more wins. Obviously, I would say I'm a lot more comfortable on clay now... I feel like clay is very strength-reliant," she said. Osaka was set to face ninth seed Paula Badosa in the Italian Open on Thursday, but after the Spaniard withdrew due to injury, Osaka breezed past Swiss lucky loser Viktorija Golubic 6-2 6-3 for her sixth straight win on clay.
