Naomi Osaka embraces positive outlook in US Open return despite semifinal exit

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Tennis star Naomi Osaka reached her first Grand Slam semifinal since 2021 at the U.S. Open in New York on Sept. 5, and though she lost to Amanda Anisimova, she called the run a fulfillment of her dreams.

Comeback marked by milestones

Osaka’s return to the latter stages of a Grand Slam came after two years away from the spotlight. Her quarterfinal victory over Karolína Muchová secured her place in the semifinals and gave her a moment to reflect on the significance of being back on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“I was sitting up there watching and hoping I would have an opportunity to play on this court again, so my dreams are coming true,” Osaka said. “There’s been so much hard work you guys haven’t seen. I’m just grateful to my team.”

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That victory made Osaka a semifinalist at the U.S. Open for the first time since 2020. It also boosted her ranking by 10 places, reestablishing her position among the top players in the women’s field.

Inspiration through defeat

Despite her loss to Anisimova, Osaka emphasized how the experience motivated her. “Honestly I don’t feel sad,” she said. “It’s kind of inspiring for me, because it makes me just want to train and try to get better, and hopefully just give it my very best shot again and see what happens.”

Trending on NextShark: Naomi Osaka embraces positive outlook in US Open return despite semifinal exit

The star athlete discussed her journey in the new Tubi documentary “Naomi Osaka: The Second Set,” which explores her return to competition, her experience as a mother, and the balance between personal growth and the demands of tennis. In the film she said, “I felt like a shell of myself at all moments of the day,” describing what she called “extremely bad postpartum” depression.

Osaka has described her comeback as not only a physical challenge but also a mental one. “Even before playing this tournament, I already exceeded my expectations,” she said. “My worst year is someone’s best year, in retrospect. So I just have to find ways to trick my mind into being positive.”

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