MUBADALA DC OPEN

July 31, 2026

Naomi Osaka

Press Conference

N. OSAKA/E. Cocciaretto

4-6, 6-4, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Naomi, congrats on the win. You're through to the semis. How are you feeling?

NAOMI OSAKA: I'm feeling pretty good. I'm really happy and, yeah, just overall I guess glad to be here.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Well done. Elisabetta obviously had a couple of good upsets this week. Just what about her game made it a little difficult for you, and how were you able to overcome that?

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, I think today -- I don't know. I feel like it was tough. Overall this match was really tough, and it felt more like a mental match than an actual tennis match. I don't feel like I played that well, but it was more, like, fighting through every point.

I think what she did well today was -- I guess she was really inside of the court on my second serve, so I did feel a little bit of pressure, but it's not like she smacked the ball every time. So I'd say she was pretty, like, solid, yeah.

Q. This is your deepest run in Washington so far. You haven't been here that many times, but first time in the semifinals. Do you feel like what you're saying about the reasons you wanted to do the cookout here sort of translated to on-court comfort and success in some ways, just the vibes?

NAOMI OSAKA: I mean, I think the vibes are very high. I think on-court comfort is not that high. I feel like the balls, the court, it's like a transition, but especially the balls. I feel like they're flying all the time, and I kind of have to hold back on my power a lot.

But, I mean, that's also a fun thing to do. You know, you have to adjust every week to a different tournament. So, yeah, I'm happy to be on a hard court, and the vibes are high, but I hope that my next round I will play a lot better.

Q. I wanted to ask you what that was like today playing in those conditions. Obviously you train and you practice in that, but compared to your opening match, evening, shortened to an extent, that was a demanding slugfest in those conditions today. What was that like for you?

NAOMI OSAKA: I mean, from my end, it was really fun. Like, the crowd was really engaging, and I love the heat. I love when things get really tough. I think that's when your character comes out.

So from my end, it was really fun. I also kind of like walking off the court after matches like that, because you feel skinny (laughing), like you feel like you've burned so many calories, so...

Q. Do you reward yourself with a good meal off that?

NAOMI OSAKA: Not necessarily. I just try to be, like, as -- just fuel my body. It's kind of like I'm viewing my body as a vehicle.

Q. Up next we'll see how it plays out tonight, but either Eala or Svitolina, two potential intriguing opponents. What do you look forward to in those cases?

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, I mean, I've never played Alex before, but obviously I've seen some of her matches. You know, she's had an incredible year so far. Honestly, playing her I think would be really fun for me, just to, like, get that knowledge about how she plays.

Then Svitolina, we've played quite a couple of times. She's one of the most solid players on tour, and it's always really tough to play against her.

So I think no matter who I play, it will be very entertaining and also really tough.

Q. Do you think you're going to be watching the match a bit tonight, or will you spend your time just doing recovery, getting a good meal for tomorrow's semifinals?

NAOMI OSAKA: No, I mean, I'm definitely going to watch the match even if it's just for entertainment. I think from me, when I was younger, I tried not to watch tennis as much because I felt like so emotionally invested, but now when I'm older, I kind of see the joy in watching it, and also, even from a fan perspective, it's just fun.

Q. I saw that you had interacted a lot with the fans after your Tennis Channel interview, and you made a lot of fans happy. What does it mean to you that there were so many people out there cheering for you?

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, I mean, I just feel really grateful, you know? I think it's my first tournament back in the States, so I always feel like it's home here. Especially in New York, too.

I haven't had that much experience here, and just to be really welcomed, it's a cool feeling.

Q. Just curious what you make of this phenomenon that Alex has been on tour. She has all these fans coming from all over, Filipino fans largely, to watch her. I don't know if it feels familiar to you at all when you were first coming on tour, or if it's a different thing you're seeing?

NAOMI OSAKA: Definitely different.

Q. How is it different? How would you describe what you are seeing around her?

NAOMI OSAKA: Come on, come on (laughing). No, I mean, I think, you know, Japanese fans are very respectful. I think even if I win a point, it's, like, very quiet. So from me, it's very, very fun to watch the impact that she's had and the fans that she's brought, because they're so passionate and into it.

I remember watching the Australian Open, her match. That was, like, kind of mind-blowing to me, because I didn't think that you could get a crowd like that in tennis, like so -- it felt like even more than a basketball game. I didn't know how to describe that.

From then, I've kind of routinely wanted to check in on her. Not personally, but just, like, see continue seeing her story and her growth, yeah.

Q. Are you curious about what it will be like if you get to play in that kind of atmosphere?

NAOMI OSAKA: I've always felt curious, but I know the type of person I am, so I'm definitely -- like I would definitely zone everything out. Then people would tell me later what happened, and I'd be, like, Oh, my God, that happened? So yeah.

Q. Svitolina, too, I think you might have played her more than anyone else on tour in your career.

NAOMI OSAKA: Really?

Q. I'd have to check, but it's possible. You played her in Japan really early on. You played her in your first Australian Open. What are some of your memories of all the different times you've played with her in your career?

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, I mean, I probably played her in every era of my growth, but I mean, every time you go into it, you know it's going to be tough, because it's not like she's going to give you anything.

I think now she's a little bit more aggressive, too, so it's a little bit more dangerous. The last time I played her was in Montreal. I don't know, it's always really interesting.

(Naomi answers questions in Japanese.)

NAOMI OSAKA: Like memory I have of him or memory with him? With him (laughing). Well, when I was younger, like, first coming on tour, we had, like, a dinner together. I remember being so nervous. I was like this the entire time, and he was trying to be very welcoming, but I just remember feeling, like, I don't know why he's being so nice to me kind of thing. So that's one of the memories I've had. Then obviously we've gotten to know each other a lot more over the years. For some reason in my head I just remember him playing, like, Super Mario all the time. I don't know why that sticks out to me, but yeah.

Yeah, I mean, I would just tell him, and I've told him already, like, how grateful I am for him, for his impact in Japanese tennis and honestly tennis in general. He's done so much. He's inspired so many different people. I think he's so humble that he doesn't even really realize it. But it's amazing, and he's such a kind person. I also feel like it's funny. He has, like, a character that some people don't know about, about being, like, kind of just like spontaneously funny. Then I kind of want to end it by saying I saw his little, like, video clip about the fashion (laughing). That was so random, but I have an outfit for him (smiling).