THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 5, 2026

Naomi Osaka

Press Conference

N. OSAKA/A. Sabalenka

6-2, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Naomi, give us some thoughts on the match today.

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, I mean, it was a really difficult match, but I've played her a couple times this year, so I just tried to focus on the things that I'm good at and, yeah, the positives that I could keep I guess thinking about moving forward in the match.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You mentioned that you played her a few times this year. Obviously some tight losses. How did you flip it today tactically and mentally to get the win?

NAOMI OSAKA: I mean, tactically there's only so much you can do against her. I think obviously we're big ball strikers. I think from my end, it's not like I'm going to start running around the court trying to draw an error from her. I can only focus on my strengths.

I just tried to serve really well because it's grass. I also tried to get the upper hand in the rallies first. That just happened to work really well today.

Q. She mentioned you overpowered her. Did you feel that on court, as well?

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, a little. Like, I tried my best because I remember on the clay courts I felt like she was pushing me back a lot. I just tried to do it to her first.

Q. You started the match super strong. Breaking her pretty early and backhand was cooking early. How good did it feel early? Were you just trying to keep that momentum and not have any dips through the whole match?

NAOMI OSAKA: Honestly -- why do I say 'honestly' (smiling)?

I had a talk with Tomasz before the match. He was very clear to tell me not to focus on the score. So actually, I wasn't very conscious of the scoreline during the entire match.

I was just trying to play point by point, because the last time I played her, not counting French Open, but in Madrid, like when I won the first set, I was very conscious of trying to close it out.

This time I just tried to play it game by game.

Q. (Question off mic.)

NAOMI OSAKA: Actually, yes. I thought about it as a practice match. I was just telling myself, like, There's a really big crowd for this practice match, but we're going to get through it.

Q. Fashion question here. You said the other day that the longer I'm in the tournament, the more stories I like to tell with my outfits, and you like to mix and match. Does that mean you'll be switching it up or adding anything as you progress?

NAOMI OSAKA: I definitely wanted to today, but I actually really wanted to focus on the match. So that was me being very tame (smiling).

But definitely there's a couple things I can add. Well, ironically I kind of want to focus on my tennis now, so I might dial back a little bit.

Q. A lot of previous years maybe when you've come here, you haven't seemed super comfortable at Wimbledon. This year you do. You seem very at ease. How does it feel different? What do you feel like your sort of relationship with Wimbledon is like now?

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, definitely I would say my relationship with grass and Wimbledon hasn't been the best when I was younger.

I'm not really sure why I feel so comfortable on grass now this year. I think I've done a lot of drills with Tomasz. Most of them weren't necessarily even on grass court. It was more like pattern recognition and things like that, getting me comfortable with my own game.

Honestly, I think like throughout the entire year, he's been getting me more comfortable with my movement and what my plans are playing opponents.

Q. Now that you're having success here, how does it feel differently having success at Wimbledon compared with having success at some of the other Grand Slams where you've done well? The experience of it, is it different? How so?

NAOMI OSAKA: I mean, I'm definitely really grateful. I think someone asked me the other day how the crowd is different here than anywhere else. I really have to think about it, because I don't actually have that much experience.

But no, I mean, the crowd is lovely. The atmosphere is amazing. To play on that court, I've watched so many great matches being played. To be the one playing is really cool.

I had this, like, one-sided beef with Eubanks, because he got to the quarters way before me. I was so upset for the longest time. So I'm glad to finally join him.

Q. You talked a lot about your mentality at this moment, not viewing tennis as the most important thing in the world, viewing it as a job. I imagine it's tied to your daughter. At what point did that mentality come to you? Was that a conversation you had with yourself, or did people around you help you to see it?

NAOMI OSAKA: I would say that people around me, like even years ago, tried to help me a lot.

I think it came after Rome. I lost to Iga really badly. I felt like I just shut everyone out. I literally just got on a plane back home. It wasn't the most professional thing to do. Like, I didn't talk to my team. I felt really ashamed about what I did. So then after that I just told myself, like, Hey, I'm nearing 30, I really got to enjoy the time that I have.

Also, obviously tennis is very, very important to me, but I have a life outside of that. I have to treasure tennis in the way that I can, which is not putting too much importance on it.

Q. In reaching the quarterfinals for the first time here, you join the Last 8 Club, which gives you certain perks. Do you know about the Last 8 Club? What does it mean that you'll be able to come back here for the rest of your life basically with tickets and lots of different perks?

NAOMI OSAKA: Oh (smiling). Wait, wait. 'Cause, okay, so I thought you just get that little pin. Can I practice here whenever I want? Is that one of the perks? Who gets to do that?

Q. Members. You get grounds passes.

NAOMI OSAKA: So you have to win to be a member?

Q. Yes.

NAOMI OSAKA: Okay. Got to lock in.

Q. You get tickets every year.

NAOMI OSAKA: Like for free?

Q. Yes.

NAOMI OSAKA: Okay, okay, that's cool. Yeah, I guess I'll, like, read, I'll Google what the perks are.

Q. Because of your previous record here, you've been able to go under the radar a little bit. Expectations will, externally, anyway, ramp up after such a good performance. Does that make a difference to you? Are you able to shut out that outside noise?

NAOMI OSAKA: I think I'm actually quite good at shutting out outside noise. Obviously, like, everyone around me knows how well I can play. For me, that's the most important thing, is just me building confidence in myself.

Whatever happens is kind of like outside noise. I don't need to pay attention to it; I just need to focus on the things that I can do.

Q. What you said about dialing back on the outfits, focusing on your tennis, why is that?

NAOMI OSAKA: I just feel like it. I don't know.

Because, I mean, like, I don't have that much variation this time around. Like, I hate to say it, but the French Open, the designer was based in France, so he was kind of like sewing things immediately after I won.

Obviously with the kimono, we had to get it from Japan. It's not like she can make a brand-new thing every time.

I have different ways to mix and match it. But my favorite one is the one I've worn two times in a row now. It's like the free-robe vibe.

If you watch anime, there's this anime called Bleach. It's one of my favorites. I don't want to bore you. But anyways, I feel like I'm channeling a character from that whenever I wear the kimono in that way.

Q. I have a question about your jersey, Lakers. Do you have any comment on LeBron James leaving the Lakers? Where would you like to see him? Maybe Miami Heat?

NAOMI OSAKA: I mean, I wear the jersey for Kobe. For LeBron, I know it's big news. I know that teams have traded other players, like Giannis. It's kind of all speculation.

I don't watch basketball enough. But I heard he might play with Steph Curry, which is really cool, which would also be very overpowered. It would be fun to see as a casual fan.

(Naomi's answers to questions in Japanese.)

NAOMI OSAKA: It's definitely amazing company to be in. For me, I admire and look up to them so much. It's a privilege to be mentioned in the same sentence.

Also, like, I think it's an incredible wave that we're having with, I call him Shinny, but I know I'm not supposed to do that, with Mochi, I know he's playing right now.

For me, I have so much fun and I enjoy it so much because it reminds me of when I used to play and Kei was there and we'd share the same court. It's a very similar feeling.

Yeah, with Robbie and Jacob, we were working a lot before this grass season on staying low and having fast footwork. Because we were all kind of talking, and I remember when I was younger, I used to be extremely low to the point where I'd bang my knees on the ground and I'd think maybe I need knee guards while I'm playing.

I just remembered that, and Robbie kind of agreed. We all understood that, like, I have potential to play really good on grass. I just need to figure out the movement part.

I think currently it's coming together, and I hope to play more matches.

Yeah, I mean, I kind of played her in Germany for, like, one set. But yeah, I mean, she's a really, really amazing player, obviously. I think whenever I've played her, it's been really tough matches.

I feel like you can only prepare so much, and the rest of it is just doing your best and going out there and seeing what happens. So from my end, that's kind of what I'm going to do, and hopefully that works.