UNITED CUP

January 2, 2026

Naomi Osaka

Team Japan

Press Conference

M. SAKKARI/N. Osaka

6-4, 6-2

Team Greece - 1

Team Japan - 0

THE MODERATOR: Naomi, thoughts on the match?

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, honestly I thought it wasn't a bad first match for what it was. I'm I guess just thankful that I have another match that I get to play.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Can you elaborate a little bit more on the positives?

NAOMI OSAKA: Well, I think just, like, trying new things. For me, I feel like I definitely could have been more aggressive on the returns. I think I did that a little bit towards the end. But learning not to be afraid of mistakes and kind of just going for it from the beginning.

Then also just trying not to be so predictable, which is something that I knew about myself since US Open. Again, I'm kind of afraid to make mistakes. So just trying to, like, break that limitation in my mind.

Q. When we spoke with Maria after the match, she talked about how she felt the match came down to who controlled down the line with the backhand. Did you see it the same way?

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, I think definitely I put myself in a position to be doing that. It's also something that I want to work on because I feel like for me, I think my backhands are good, so I kind of put myself in that box. I also want to, like, be confident in my forehands, as well.

I think the backhand down the line from my end is pretty good, but I rarely did it as often as she did, so...

Q. Given it's so early in the season, how much do you actually read into the result? Is it more about how you're feeling out there?

NAOMI OSAKA: I mean, honestly from my end, it's tough to say like I don't care because I do care. I kind of have been dealing with some health stuff, so I'm kind of just happy to be out here right now. It's not like serious, but yeah.

I was pretty happy with the level of playing that I played at right now, so whatever.

Q. You had a bit of a cough out there. How are you feeling physically? How much did it take out of you?

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, I mean, I'm not operating at the percent that I want to be operating at, which kind of sucks because, like, I had a really good off-season so I thought I was going to do really well here. Then I got really sick. I think I'm at the tail end of that, but still not amazing.

So yeah, I feel like for me, I'm just trying to get better every day. Obviously I had a cough, like a runny nose, like all that nasty stuff, yeah. Hopefully it goes away before the Australian Open.

Q. How long ago did you get sick?

NAOMI OSAKA: Honestly, it's been a minute, which is why I'm shocked that I still have it. I think I got it from my daughter (smiling).

I want to say like before Christmas Eve.

Q. How tough was it getting yourself up for this match today?

NAOMI OSAKA: I mean, it's been tough. Also for me, that's why I also really appreciate being here because you feel the team atmosphere, it makes you want to go out and do your best and do something. I feel very apologetic that I couldn't get the win.

I don't know, we're all here to try our best. If it doesn't work out, it sucks, but we're going to just try again another day.

Q. A few issues with the serve. Struggled with the ball toss a bit early. Is that just rust that comes with the first match of the season?

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, I definitely wouldn't blame that on being sick. I was just really nervous so my hand was shaking a little bit. That's definitely from my end that comes the first match of the year or if I have a long break or something so...