Naomi Osaka vows to improve her game after a second-round loss at the Pan Pacific Open. She remains hopeful about her future performance.
Naomi Osaka lost in the second round of the Pan Pacific Open on Thursday. Young player Mia Pohankova defeated the former champion in straight sets.
Also, Osaka remains positive about her future in tennis. She plans to keep working hard to win another Grand Slam title soon.
Next, the 29-year-old athlete shared her thoughts after the match. She feels at peace despite the loss in her home country.
However, the defeat marks a tough end to her season. Osaka has not won a tournament title since returning from maternity leave.
Then, the crowd watched Osaka enter the court in a unique red outfit. She enjoys using fashion as a creative outlet during matches.
Meanwhile, the star athlete noted that tennis often feels too restrained. She prefers the bold style choices seen in other major sports.
After that, the match itself proved difficult for the former world number one. Her 18-year-old opponent showed great skill throughout the contest.
Still, Osaka admitted that she knew very little about the young Slovakian player. She remembered being a young underdog on tour herself.
As a result, the veteran tennis star joked about her age. She noted that younger competitors eventually challenge every experienced player.
Finally, other athletes continued their play in the Tokyo tournament. Leylah Fernandez moved into the quarterfinals after a solid win.