MUBADALA CITI DC OPEN

July 24, 2025

Naomi Osaka

Press Conference

E. RADUCANU/N. Osaka

6-4, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Naomi, obviously not the result you wanted today. Just your thoughts on the match.

NAOMI OSAKA: Honestly, I didn't think it was that bad. I just think, you know, obviously my serve could have been better, but weirdly kind of okay with how I played.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. I think sometimes it's hard to realize the sort of transition you need to make immediately. I'm not sure for sure, but I'm assuming you're going to Canada. How quickly do you have to do that reset? Do you take a minute to appreciate what happened, or do you take notes already and then go straight into practicing and fixing what you thought you could have done better? What is that transition for you?

NAOMI OSAKA: I mean, I don't appreciate what happened today (smiling), but yeah, I mean, for I think I want to work on things. Obviously today's not the result I wanted, so hopefully just keep working and I guess having a positive attitude and try to keep moving forward.

Q. What are some of those things that you feel like you're trying to work differently on in your game that maybe didn't work 100% today or 100% clicking, but when they start to click, you'll feel more confident in your game, if anything?

NAOMI OSAKA: I think honestly I have been working on my return a lot, and ironically I don't think it was that bad today. I think she served quite well. I guess just keep working on that, working on my serve. I know it's one of my biggest weapons.

Today the percentages were off, so hopefully improving that. Then I guess just baseline tennis. I feel like from the baseline, like, I was doing pretty well. I think there are certain situations where she got one more ball back and I was kind of just looking and waiting. So kind of getting more accustomed to being comfortable being aggressive.

Q. A question about the scheduling of the tournaments in this swing of the season. Wondering if you remember the branding called the US Open Series years back? It was all linked together as one road trip. Do you miss that at all? And do you feel some different energy coming into this swing of the season where you're seeing a large bulk of your U.S. fans in the stadium?

NAOMI OSAKA: You have such a nice voice, but I'm so deaf. I need you to repeat it.

Q. A question of the scheduling of the tournament. Do you remember the branding called the US Open Series like it was kind of a big road trip? Do you miss that at all, and do you feel some different energy coming into this swing of the season, seeing a lot of your U.S. fans in the stadium?

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, honestly, for me, I always just refer to it as the U.S. swing. I don't know what it's called now, but that's kind of just in my head what it's always been.

I do appreciate it a lot, and I know I haven't been to D.C. in a very long time, so just to have people come out and cheer, it really means a lot.

Yeah, I think, I don't know, the U.S. fans have kind of like embraced me as one of their own, so it's a really good feeling.

Q. You said you watched a bunch of Emma before. How did this on-court experience compare with what you expected in terms of seeing and feeling her game?

NAOMI OSAKA: Oh. So when I say I watched her, it might not have necessarily been her tennis. Might have been like interviews and stuff like that.

Yeah, I mean, I watched her in Wimbledon, but I think it is different playing someone in real life than playing them or seeing them on TV.

So I think for me honestly it was really good to get the experience, to feel how her ball is. Yeah, hopefully I can play her again one day.

Q. She was saying before this match that you had never talked to each other really before. Would you like to ever get to know players like this you might have a lot in common with? You might see interviews or social media, and I know you're not the most extroverted player always, but would you ever like to get to know these people you may have stuff in common with? I don't know.

NAOMI OSAKA: I mean, yes, but I don't know. I don't know if I'm, like, I look scary or something, but I have been saying hi to everyone for the past year and a half since I have been back, and I think they still think I'm kind of like extremely introverted and/or have RBF. So we haven't really, like, proceeded past the "Hi, how are you doing" phase.

Q. I hope they say hi back.

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah. (Laughter.)

Q. You mentioned in passing the idea of having a low serve percentage today. In general, was that, for example today, was that just a feel thing or do you look at the stats after a match? How much do you pay attention to various numbers?

NAOMI OSAKA: Honestly when I'm at my best, I know the numbers in my head, so I'll know, like, a percentage while I'm playing. Then usually if I feel, like, my serve needs to be faster, I'll look at the clock after I serve. Or not the clock. The miles-per-hour thing after a serve.

So that's kind of just an internal thing, not really like I'm looking at the sheet of stats after a match.

Q. Obviously losses are not easy for any athlete, but I'm curious, a loss like today, a loss that's a bit more clear-cut, is that sometimes easier to accept in your mind versus, like, I don't know, losing 7-5 in the third, like, with a lot of chances?

NAOMI OSAKA: Yikes (smiling). I don't necessarily think so. I think all losses suck a lot.

But I don't know. I'm also a little confused why I'm okay right now compared to, like, other matches in the past. I think it's because now I kind of have a clear plan on what to do, but I also feel like that's been a buildup of, like, this year.

But maybe you're right, like if I did have a match point and I lost, I would be, like, a completely different attitude right now. But I guess it depends on the tolerance of the player.

Q. You did some live tweeting the other day watching Venus' match. Do you have plans of watching her this evening? What do you think of her injection of energy into the space of tennis and broader culture as well and coming back and winning at her age as a legend?

NAOMI OSAKA: I mean, I think it's really cool. I think she brings a lot of excitement. It's just really, I would say, inspiring. My only thing is I don't really like how every headline mentions her age, which we all know how old she is, but it's kind of more the broader, how much of a legend she is in this sport, and she's definitely inspired so many different players.

But, yeah, I'm looking forward to watching her play, and she's gonna play the US Open for sure, right?

The mixed entry? Oh, okay.

Well, I'm looking forward to her outfit. I heard it's good.

Cool. Thank you.