MUBADALA CITI DC OPEN

July 22, 2025

Naomi Osaka

Press Conference

N. OSAKA/Y. Putintseva

6-2, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Congrats. Your thoughts on the match.

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, I mean, I thought it was a good match. I just tried to stay really calm. I know it got a little tight in the second but I'm happy with how I was able to find a way.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. How's it been for you this week so far in Washington and getting your feet on your beloved hard courts again?

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, it's been really nice. Honestly, I think, well, a little ironically now, I feel like I learned a lot of lessons from grass and clay that I am able to apply now. I think from grass especially my serve, I've been able to do a couple of things.

Really happy about that, and of course really happy to be back on hard.

Q. What are those things you're doing on your serve?

NAOMI OSAKA: Just, I guess, being a little bit more tactical about where I place my serve or how I toss and things like that.

Q. Just in general, what's the feeling coming back to hard courts where you've had such great success? Does it feel like coming home? A comfort level?

NAOMI OSAKA: You know, honestly, yes. But I also, like, I had a realization the other day that, like, I have to be a little bit more confident in myself while also not putting pressure on myself, so it's a little strange.

But I think I'm the type of person that I always feel like everyone else is really good, and sometimes that puts a lot of doubt in myself. But the other day I was trying to tell myself that I won a couple of slams on this surface for a reason, so I need to believe in myself a lot more.

Yeah, I guess I'm trying to see where that mentality takes me.

Q. Do you know who you're playing next?

NAOMI OSAKA: No, but I guess it's something good if you're asking me with this (motioning).

Q. Do you want to know? I can ask another question.

NAOMI OSAKA: Um.

Q. Yes.

NAOMI OSAKA: Okay. Then I guess I want to know.

Q. You are playing Emma Raducanu next. I'm coming at it from the entertainment factor. I think these are the matchups that people love. Naomi Osaka-Emma Raducanu. The big stage. Do you look at it that way at all or are you just coming in with the tennis? Do you appreciate people love to see matchups like this and are excited and entertained by it?

NAOMI OSAKA: You know, I'm always a person that loves when people are entertained. So I would say I'm excited about it, especially seeing how you're excited about it.

I've never played her before, so for me, that's something really cool too. Because I have seen her, I guess when she first did well at Wimbledon before she won the US Open, like moments like that, and I knew she was a good player. So I guess for our paths to finally cross is really cool.

Q. Speaking of fan favorites. I was just wondering what the vibe has been like with Venus playing at a competitive tournament? Have you gotten to see any of her matches or interact with her in any way?

NAOMI OSAKA: I haven't gotten to interact with her in more than we were both, like, going to practice type of thing. But for me, she's, like, the queen, like there's a royal air around her.

I'm honestly kind of surprised you guys are still here, because I know she's -- I don't know if she's playing right now or if she's about to walk on court, so I'm probably going to go watch that.

I feel like whenever I see her or Serena, the kid in me comes out, because they were my favorite players to watch. So it's really cool that she kind of is doing it for the fans, too.

Q. I remember in 2022 when Serena had announced she was retiring you were at, like, almost all of her matches, it seemed like. What does it still mean to you even as an established pro and champion yourself at that point to still get to see the Williams sisters out on court again? What does it still mean to you?

NAOMI OSAKA: I mean, for me, it's everything, you know. I'm grateful that they played so long, and they're continuing -- maybe Serena is coming back, I don't know, fingers crossed.

Yeah, I feel like it's so great for the sport, because obviously I grew up watching them, and then I was able to play with them. As a player myself, I know how difficult it is to even be at the top for that long of a time. That's really insane. I think people I guess should value them a little bit more.

But yeah, I mean, they're my mothers. They're the queens.

Q. On Raducanu, what sort of similarities you might see in your trajectories? You've been around a little bit longer than she had when she won her first Grand Slam, but you both kind of got shot to stardom by these US Open wins. What have you made about her journey and struggles once you win your first slam and stuff like that? Do you see some similarities or differences in your overall arcs with her?

NAOMI OSAKA: I won my second slam after I won my first slam.

Q. But I'm just saying in terms of sudden fame and celebrity, maybe even more than that.

NAOMI OSAKA: I mean, honestly, I feel like for her, it must be really tough, because I read online, like, she had a stalker. I don't know if it's allowed to say out loud. I don't really know. I saw in Dubai or something there was -- honestly, I really feel sad for her, because that video was, like, one of the most saddest videos I've ever seen.

And I just hope she has a lot of really good people around her. I think that there must be a lot of pressure from -- I don't know how British media is, but they don't really seem the kindest. I think she's navigating it really well.

Q. I just wanted to say how wonderful it was to see all of those fans, and especially young little girls, and you taking the time to give back to those fans. Talking about the Citi D.C. Open here and just the importance of the community, the allure of the event, and also too as a runway up to the US Open, it must be kind of like a, as we said, soul food, a really good feeling going up to the last Grand Slam of the season. What are your thoughts on that?

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, definitely. I think this, you know, is the US Open hard-court swing, and this tournament kicks that off. To be I guess in D.C., which is an iconic, like, you have all the monuments, and it kind of screams America, you know, in a way. I guess it's a really cool environment to be in.

And of course, seeing a bunch of little kids and thinking about the time when I was in their shoes and wanting to, I guess, get a picture with my favorite player, I try my best to, I guess, make time for everyone.

But yeah, I feel like we're all really excited to start the hard-court swing, and hopefully see a bunch of really good tennis.