Naomi Osaka suffers first-round defeat at French Open
- Naomi Osaka played against Paula Badosa in the first round of the French Open, losing with a score of 6-7 (1), 6-1, 6-4.
- Osaka struggled with blisters on her hands and had to trim her nails during the match, a reflection of her difficulties on clay surfaces.
- The defeat has raised concerns about Osaka's performance and mental health, as she has yet to advance past the third round at Roland Garros.
In France, Naomi Osaka faced a challenging first round at the French Open held at Roland Garros. The match occurred on May 25, 2025, where she confronted the 10th-seeded player, Paula Badosa. Although Osaka started the match strongly, winning the first set in a closely contested tiebreak, things took a turn as she struggled with blisters on her hands throughout the match. She was compelled to modify her sakura-themed long nails during the game, requesting clippers from the physio and trimming her nails to a more manageable length. These blisters were attributed to her difficulties with the clay surface, which she had experienced in previous tournaments, including the Italian Open. Despite her initial success, Osaka was unable to maintain her momentum, falling to Badosa with a final score of 6-7 (1), 6-1, 6-4. After the match, a visibly upset Osaka addressed the media, revealing her feelings of disappointment. She expressed concern over her performance, noting, "As time goes on, I feel like I should be doing better," which reflected her internal pressures and expectations as a seasoned four-time Grand Slam champion. Osaka has had a complicated relationship with the French Open, as she has never progressed beyond the third round during her participation at this major tournament. Her ongoing challenges at Roland Garros are often compounded by her struggles with mental health, which have led her to withdraw from tournaments in the past due to anxiety. This defeat at the French Open comes ahead of the upcoming Wimbledon tournament, where Osaka stated she was uncertain about her schedule. She indicated she did not expect to lose in the first round and will need time to bounce back. Her journey through the tournament not only highlights the fierce competition she faces with other elite players like Badosa, but also shines a light on the physical demands and psychological pressures of professional tennis. Moving forward, Osaka will need to address both her performance on clay surfaces and her mental resilience. Having achieved success on hard courts in previous Grand Slam tournaments, her continued struggles on clay and against the backdrop of her mental health concerns will be critical factors to monitor as she prepares for Wimbledon, which begins on June 30, 2025.