Naomi Osaka explains what went wrong in her loss to Iga Swiatek
Iga Świątek made quick work of Naomi Osaka earlier tonight, wrapping up a straightforward win over the former world No. 1.
The Pole looked sharp from the start, and the final scoreline of 6-2, 6-1 reflected how much control she had throughout.
For Osaka, though, it was another disappointing result.
It’s been nearly two years since their memorable second-round clash at Roland-Garros, where Osaka pushed Świątek to three sets. It wasn’t just a good match; it was one that felt significant for both players in different ways.
This time around, it didn’t feel like the same contest. Osaka found herself outplayed from start to finish and has since offered some thoughts on why things played out the way they did.
Naomi Osaka gives her thoughts after losing to Iga Swiatek at the Italian Open
After the match, Osaka faced the media in a subdued mood, answering questions with little energy and few words.
She didn’t offer much analysis of what went wrong, even saying at one point that she wasn’t sure why the match had been so lopsided.
When asked what stood out to her about the match, Osaka said: “Honestly, I’m not so sure. I think honestly, I felt like she played really well. Maybe this clay was suited a little bit more for her.
“But I also feel like, I don’t know, there’s something I could have done more, but I’m not really sure what.”
Another reporter suggested that Swiatek’s strong form in Rome might be some consolation for Osaka. She replied: “Not really, no. I’m a perfectionist.”
Looking ahead to the French Open, she added: “I mean just trying and fighting. Obviously this match wasn’t ideal for me but I’ll just take a couple of days to process it and figure out what I can do better next time.”
The result probably wasn’t much of a shock considering how Osaka responded when she first learned she’d be playing Swiatek again.
Jamie Murray comments on Iga Swiatek’s display
While Osaka struggled to get into the match, Swiatek looked sharp from start to finish.
The six-time Grand Slam winner has faced questions about her recent form, especially on clay, where she hasn’t quite looked like her old self.
But her run through the Italian Open so far is starting to quieten those doubts.
He said: “It was a dominating performance. She did not need any help from Osaka. After that first set, she went from strength to strength. Controlled the middle of the court with heavy hitting. She returned very well too, especially second serve, it was hard for Osaka to get the ball out of the strike zone.
“A lot of balls landed in the middle of the box, and she could not get the ball beyond her shoulders in these conditions, and Swiatek took full advantage.
“She will feel very good about herself after that performance against a player of Osaka’s calibre.”
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