THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 30, 2025

Naomi Osaka

Press Conference

N. OSAKA/T. Gibson

6-4, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Naomi, happy to get that first win under your belt, I'm sure.

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, definitely. I don't know, I had a lot of fun playing. I was just really excited to I guess play another Grand Slam.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. How has your sort of appreciation of the sort of tennis that you have to play here changed at all over the years?

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, I mean, I think for me, especially Wimbledon, it's always been a little tough for me. I think grass is the surface that is ironically the trickiest for me to figure out so far.

I think just making my match today, playing someone that I've never played before, and also getting over the first-round nerves was a little tricky. I'm glad that I did it, and I hope that I have many more matches to come.

Q. Why did you say 'ironically'? Did you expect it wouldn't be as tricky?

NAOMI OSAKA: I think if you told me that I had to choose between winning a title on clay or grass, I would have probably thought I would have won a grass tournament before a clay tournament.

It's kind of just, like, little jokes like that. But yeah, overall I think I'm happy with the things that I learn from every surface. I'm excited, of course, this tournament, but my favorite swing is coming up after this, so...

Q. I want to know more about the documentary that's coming out soon. Do you mind sharing more what it's going to be about, and how is that going to be different from your Netflix one?

NAOMI OSAKA: I think for me, the Netflix one, of course, they were filming me, but I felt like it wasn't me portrayed in a way that I loved 100%. Like, when I watched it, I felt like I seemed very depressed at all times. Granted, that was a pretty up-and-down part of my life.

I don't know. I feel like I have more control obviously with Hanna Kuma on the way that this documentary is coming out. It's also about motherhood. My daughter's in it a little bit. It's obviously revolving around my first year back. You guys maybe saw the cameras following me last year.

But I'm really excited about it. I think for me it just tells the stories of moms and how strong moms are.

Q. There's talk of making women's Grand Slam matches best-of-five in the closing stages. Would you want that or be interested to test yourself?

NAOMI OSAKA: I mean, I think I would do pretty well, if that's what you're asking (smiling).

I know we'd probably never get to that point. I wouldn't be against it if it did happen.

Q. What about from an equality standpoint? Do you think that's important that the games are equal in that way?

NAOMI OSAKA: Honestly, like, I feel like out of all the things to be equal, that might be one of the most nitpicky things. But I've also just grown up my whole life knowing that men play five sets and women play three sets.

I think it's a little bit hard to change that mentality for me personally.

Q. The image of the day was Nick in your box.

NAOMI OSAKA: Oh, he was there? I did not hear nothing, okay.

Q. I wanted to ask you the story behind.

NAOMI OSAKA: Oh, my God. I jokingly told someone, Hey, I know Nick's around, maybe he wants to come to my match.

But I was joking, 'cause I know we're, like, two completely different players. Honestly, I would have loved to come to his matches, because I know he's pretty fun.

Yeah, I think that's also a big part of why we're different is 'cause I know he kind of like tells his box what to do, and he probably would have noticed if I was in there. I kind of, like, zone out most of the time.

That's a little embarrassing that he was there. I guess it is cool that he was there.

Q. Is it over with the flower theme for the slams, or are you just taking a break?

NAOMI OSAKA: I was going to do something, but then I felt really embarrassed, 'cause I always kind of have to hype myself up, or I think that I'm doing too much. Since it's Wimbledon and I haven't really seen anyone doing anything, I felt like I was being the extra one again.

Spoiler alert, but US Open is really extra. So I thought maybe I should be very calm this tournament.

Q. We love your extra.

NAOMI OSAKA: Good to know (smiling).

Q. Do you like when the WTA puts together highlights of your matches? Do you like to watch them? Do you feel they give a fair reflection?

NAOMI OSAKA: I would say I watch them sometimes, if I have the opportunity to. Other moments I think it's a little, like, chopped up. I know how the flow of the match was, so it's a little bit hard to watch highlights, 'cause it feels a little bit rushed.

Q. The way it's put together?

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, a little bit.

Q. Was Nick maybe studying you for mixed doubles?

NAOMI OSAKA: I have something so crazy to say, but I'm not going to say it.

Q. We won't tell anybody.

NAOMI OSAKA: No, like, yeah, I'm not going to. I'll see him in person and say it.

No, I mean, I am really excited to play mixed doubles with him. I think he's obviously won a doubles tournament. Well, we've played last year. I think Fritz was being a little bit too serious on me.

Yeah, I think it should be fun. I don't know. I feel like for me, I have always felt like I've always related to him in a weird way, even though we're completely different. I kind of understand some of the things that he does.

So yeah, I am glad that he came to my match. I hope in some way maybe he felt I wouldn't be bold enough to say 'inspired', but I hope he could relate a little bit to the things that I do, too.

Q. You can try to make sure he gets a lot of physio, so he is fit for the tournament. A bit of a concern with his fitness level at the moment.

NAOMI OSAKA: I didn't know that.

Q. Nick Kyrgios?

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah. I just knew he was injured.

Q. Because he hasn't played for such a long time.

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, but I think he's a person that, I don't know, he creates excitement or negativity, depending on what he chooses to tweet that day, so...

(Naomi's answers to questions in Japanese.)

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, I mean, I definitely felt more relaxed as the match went on. I think I always feel really nervous during the first match of a Grand Slam. But overall I'm pretty happy with how I did. I know the grass season hasn't been particularly amazing for me this year, but I'm really happy with how much I fight every match. No matter what or no matter how I think I play, I feel like the mentality is pretty solid.

Yeah, definitely I think for me, I'm really trying to focus more on my head space. I think the tennis is there, but I feel like there are certain moments where I would get nervous, or the last couple of matches I played I had a lot of break points, and I wasn't able to convert them. Just trying to keep myself focused and telling myself to play one point at a time. It's definitely been helping, so I hope that I can continue that.

Yeah, I mean, I think for me this tournament, I don't know, I don't put a lot of pressure on myself now. I've had a really good talk with Patrick before this. He says he can sense that I put a lot of expectations on myself. I know that I do, too. In a weird way, the more time passes, the more stressed I get, because I feel like I should be doing better. We kind of had a talk about that. Now I wouldn't say that I don't care about results, but I'm more caring about the effort that I put into every point. I hope eventually it will lead to what I want it to.

Yeah, I mean, I think honestly, even in Berlin, but in Bad Homburg, my serve was really good actually. That's, honestly, how I won my first match. We were just both serving.

So I feel like on grass my serve would be really dangerous. I'm hoping to learn more about that with Patrick. But I think also since it's so fast, I don't know, I think footwork-wise I need to learn how to react better. Obviously I have a big swing on both sides. Just kind of keeping it more compact. I'll probably watch a lot of videos of the really good grass court players.

Yeah, definitely. Her birthday is on Wednesday. I guess it's another match day for me. I really do think about it while I'm here. It makes Wimbledon now a special place for me, because I get to take her here. She loves strawberries. I love taking her to the store and buying things with her.

I don't know, I'm really excited for when she grows older and maybe she can come to the courts and watch me play on her birthday, maybe if my matches fall on her birthday. Yeah, it's definitely become a special place for both of us.