When everything seemed to be turning around after the Canadian tournament, things haven’t gone as expected for Naomi Osaka. Following her loss in the final against Canadian Victoria Mboko, the Japanese star has faced a wave of criticism directed at her attitude during the decisive match.
This comes on top of the uncertainty surrounding who will coach the former Grand Slam champion at the upcoming US Open, one of her main objectives this season. Adding to the controversy, recent remarks criticizing Osaka have sparked debate over her attitude toward handling defeat, fueling discussions about the mindset and resilience expected from a top-level athlete.
The comments that are shaking the Tennis world
Even though most of the criticism directed at Naomi Osaka isn’t about her actual tennis performance, her attitude has been drawing heavy negativity. This was evident on the podcast Nothing Major Show, where several former tennis players, including Sam Querrey, John Isner, Steve Johnson, and Jack Sock, discussed the Japanese star’s mindset in the Canadian Open.
“Can Osaka just act like an adult for five minutes? Just give a nice speech, fake it for a minute, and then move on to the locker room,” began Sam Querrey, who went on to add, “She is also going to make, like, 30 million dollars,” criticizing Osaka’s demeanor after the loss.
Querrey was one of the main critics of Naomi Osaka, even comparing her behavior to that of Aryna Sabalenka after losing the French Open final to Coco Gauff. “We saw Sabalenka have the same,” he noted. “We’ve seen it on the men’s side too.” His comments referred to Sabalenka’s own reaction, in which she openly attributed her defeat to her poor performance on the court.
Even Steve Johnson has spoken out, offering candid advice after Osaka’s loss in the final. He suggested that she should handle defeat differently: “At least give an honest answer, thank your opponent. I know it’s hard to do, but as an athlete, that’s your job,” Johnson said.
Naomi Osaka apologizes for her Canadian Open behavior amid controversy
Naomi Osaka acknowledged that her behavior at the end of the Canadian Open fell short of expectations. Photos and post-match celebrations showed her acting out of context, without properly recognizing her opponent. However, she later offered an explanation for her actions.
“Thank you, Montreal, it’s been an incredible few weeks. I also want to apologize and congratulate Victoria. You played amazingly, and especially, you have a fantastic career ahead! I realized I didn’t congratulate you on the court.” Naomi Osaka wrote.
Naomi Osaka is at the center of controversy after her explosive behavior and apparent lack of camaraderie on the court have sparked widespread discussion. Nevertheless, she has delivered strong performances, showing an elevated level of play that gives her hope heading into the US Open, her next major goal.
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