Osaka, on Sabalenka: "Facing her is different from everything else"

Diego Jiménez Rubio | 1 Jun 2026 | 23.36

Naomi Osaka talks about Sabalenka. Photo: gettyimages

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Naomi Osaka put an end to her participation in Roland Garros 2026 with a defeat against Aryna Sabalenka, but also with the feeling of having taken a step forward in her evolution on clay courts. The Japanese reached the second week of the tournament for the first time in her career and left Paris satisfied with the progress shown.

Beyond the result, Naomi Osaka made one of the most interesting reflections in Roland Garros 2026 throughout her appearance by explaining how her understanding of tennis and competition has changed. The former world number one acknowledged that she no longer experiences defeats as she did years ago and admitted that her life has found a new balance since becoming a mother.

This is what Osaka said after losing to Sabalenka at Roland Garros 2026

Her best Roland Garros and a different view of success

"Honestly, I no longer focus too much on the results. I feel that as long as I wake up each day, go to practice, hit the ball, and see that I am improving, that is already a victory for me."

"Obviously, throughout a season, there are always ups and downs, better and worse moments. But having gone further than ever in Roland Garros has to be something positive. It is my best result here, and I am leaving content because of it."

"I would have loved to keep advancing, but I feel that I have to focus on the good things. I have played three really good matches, and that also matters."

Why facing Sabalenka is different

"Honestly, I don't feel like I can play relaxed against her. It's a very difficult feeling to explain because it's different from any other player on the circuit."

"I always play with percentages in mind, always calculating during matches. Sometimes it helps me, and other times it works against me. But when you play against Aryna, it feels like those percentages stop mattering."

"You might be thinking that an opponent will serve wide 75% of the time or will repeat a specific pattern, but against her, many times all of that no longer makes sense."

Sabalenka's evolution and the danger of her drop shots

"I have played against many players and have a terrible memory for these things, but I can say that all my opponents in this tournament have used drop shots."

"Obviously, Aryna is different because she is probably the most powerful hitter on the circuit. When she executes a drop shot, it works even better because you know she can also hit a winner from any position."

"That makes it much harder to anticipate what she will do. It reminds me a little of Ashleigh Barty because she also had many resources, used the slice very well, and executed great drop shots."

The significant difference from Naomi a few years ago

"If I had lost a match like this a few years ago, I would probably have been very disappointed in myself."

"I have played against Aryna several times, and I have also lost to her several times. All I can do is keep trying and keep giving my best."

"Perhaps someday it will turn in my favor and I will manage to win, but I cannot afford to feel discouraged every time I lose or too euphoric every time I win. Ultimately, when you think about it calmly, hitting a tennis ball is not that important in the grand scheme of life."

Motherhood and a new way of understanding tennis

"I feel like I have reached a kind of enlightenment, but in a healthy way for me. Obviously, I still invest a lot in tennis and I keep trying to become the best player possible. But now I see it differently."

"When I was younger, after a defeat, I would lock myself in my room, and everything revolved around that result. Now it's different. It's a bit like clocking in at work and clocking out. I love tennis, work very hard, and want to win, but I am also looking forward to going home to see my daughter. Honestly, those are the happiest moments of my life."

The pride of playing a historic night session

"For me, it was really special. I found it very nice to play this match in the night session. I feel honored that the tournament chose us to occupy that slot. I hope they continue to do so in the future."

"I did not feel any extra pressure because of that. I already have enough things to put pressure on myself during a match. That was probably the least of my concerns."

"Of course, you don't want to lose 6-0 and 6-0, but it doesn't matter if you play on the center court or on court 27. All you try to do is compete to the best of your ability."

What she still wants to improve

"My first serve percentage has been pretty bad since the start of the tournament. Against other players, I managed to survive despite this, but against Aryna, it's much more challenging. Her presence on the return is really noticeable. You know that if you don't serve well, she is going to keep you constantly under pressure."

"I thought about slowing down to put more first serves in, but even in those situations, she remains very aggressive. I felt I had more options sticking to my usual approach and, at least, losing or winning on my own terms."

Leaving with a smile and looking to the future

"The match against Jovic was probably the longest I have played this year, and physically, I arrived in very good shape for this encounter. That leaves me very satisfied."

"I am not particularly excited to switch to grass now because I feel like I was just starting to find my sensations on clay. "

"But I am leaving Paris with a smile. I have the opportunity to continue learning on another surface, and I carry spectacular memories of this tournament. I am very grateful for everything I have experienced here."

Roland Garros 2026 leaves Naomi Osaka with much more than her best historical result in Paris. The Japanese player leaves the tournament with the feeling of having taken a step forward on clay courts, but above all with a completely different perspective on her career. More mature, more balanced, and with different priorities than in her early years in the elite, Osaka continues to pursue significant sports goals without losing sight of what she now truly considers important.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Osaka, sobre Sabalenka: "Enfrentarse a ella es distinto a todo lo demás"

Naomi Osaka