Naomi Osaka admits she feels ‘really bad’ after what she kept doing to her coach during her US Open third round match

Naomi Osaka is enjoying her best run at a Grand Slam in over four years, and is now through to the fourth round at the US Open for the first time since 2020.

Following two comfortable early victories at the tournament, the four-time major champion came through a three-set battle with Daria Kasatkina to advance in New York.

She took the first set off the Australian in convincing fashion with a bagel, and after conceding the second by six games to four, she ultimately sealed the win at Louis Armstrong Stadium.

The result marks a ninth triumph with new coach Tomasz Wiktorowski, who was appointed after Osaka parted ways with Patrick Mouratoglou before the Canadian Open.

Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty ImagesNaomi Osaka explains why she felt bad during the third round

The Japanese star was seen gesturing towards Wiktorowski a lot during her clash with Kasatkina, which she explained in her post-match press conference.

When asked if she had made any changes to her service motion with the Pole, Osaka responded: “Honestly, no.

“I haven’t made any changes, but it was just I feel really bad. I was like really staring at him a lot today. But no, we just have like keywords to like focus on when I don’t feel like I’m serving that well.”

Speaking about her current feelings, she explained: “Honestly, it’s not relief, which is kind of ironic.

“I think, like my first feeling, that I feel right now is I’m very tired. My second one is just that I’m very grateful to be here.

“I think when I was younger, I kind of expected myself to win in a way. So, like doing press after winning a match was kind of like, a routine.

“But I think now I’ve kind of experienced so many tough losses that I’m just happy to be smiling at a press conference.”

Naomi Osaka’s results so far with Tomasz Wiktorowski

Osaka has enjoyed a successful start to life with Wiktorowski in her corner, having made the final of a WTA 1000 tournament for the first time since 2022.

The 27-year-old had an impressive run at the Canadian Open, beating the likes of Jelena Ostapenko and Elina Svitolina en route to the final.

Though she ultimately lost to Victoria Mboko in the championship match, Osaka showed great signs of improvement throughout her campaign in Montreal.

After clinching three wins at Flushing Meadows, her next test now comes in the form of third seed Coco Gauff, who she last faced at a major in 2020.