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Naomi Osaka has made a habit of making headlines with her comments inside the media center at various Grand Slam stops over the years, and this year’s French Open was no different.
The four-time Grand Slam winner lost in straight sets to World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka (5-7, 3-6) in the fourth round at Roland Garros, which has become a familiar situation for Osaka in her career. The 28-year-old has a 1-3 record against the Belarusian all-time, with her three losses coming in 2026.
While fielding media questions following her fourth-round exit in France, Osaka was asked if she could take any encouragement from the loss or if she was intimidated by the challenge of closing the gap between herself and Sabalenka.
Naomi Osaka of Japan plays a backhand against Aryna Sabalenka during day nine of the 2026 French Open at Roland Garros on June 1, 2026, in Paris, France. (Tnani Badreddine/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)
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The question was a bit strange, as the idea of feeling encouraged after a third consecutive loss to the same opponent would be unique, but the question was not as strange as the answer Osaka proceeded to give.
“I don’t know if you knew me before, but I would feel very, very disappointed in myself after matches like these. But I realized that it doesn’t matter at all,” Osaka began.
“I’ve played against her several times and unfortunately I’ve lost several times. The only thing I can continue to do is do the best I can. Maybe, hopefully, one day it will work out in my favor. But I can’t allow myself to get discouraged every time I lose or win against someone. Because honestly, hitting a ball doesn’t really matter, on Earth, more or less.”
There is nothing more boring than that.
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus against Naomi Osaka of Japan during day nine of the 2026 French Open at Roland Garros on June 1, 2026, in Paris, France. (Tnani Badreddine/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)
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For a four-time major winner and former world No. 1, for Osaka to admit out loud that “hitting a ball doesn’t really matter” is shocking.
Naomi Osaka of Japan plays a backhand against Aryna Sabalenka during day nine of the 2026 French Open at Roland Garros on June 1, 2026, in Paris, France. (Tnani Badreddine/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)
Imagine the level of criticism an NBA superstar would receive if he said that “shooting a basketball doesn’t really matter” after a loss, or an NFL quarterback suggesting that “throwing a football doesn’t really matter” after a crushing loss.
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Osaka, however, continually receives the benefit of the doubt from many in the tennis world despite withdrawing from the 2021 French Open because the media pressures were apparently too much for her. He also cried in the Roland Garros press center a year ago after his first-round elimination.
