Total debacle for Osaka in front of her home crowd in Tokyo

Naomi Osaka is struggling to find her form. The Japanese player has had a decent year, but it is clearly insufficient for someone making great sacrifices to try to become the best again in a sport that is no longer her priority. After her explosive statements earlier this week hinting at the possibility of retiring soon if she felt unable to win major titles, losing in the WTA 500 Tokyo 2026 to the world number 144 is a huge blow.

It seemed like a favorable week for the Japanese player to lift a title again, something she hasn't achieved since the 2021 Australian Open. It was a different life for Naomi back then, before stepping away from tennis to become a mother and returning to the sport in a commendable but currently unsatisfactory way for her. Expectations were high among her compatriots, but falling in the round of 16 to Mia Pohankova with scores of 6-3 7-5 was not on anyone's agenda.

Mia has come to play 💪 Mia Pohankova takes the first set 6-3 over Osaka. #torayppo https://t.co/7dcOiFkRwx

— wta (@WTA) October 29, 2026

Naomi Osaka ends the year in the top-20 but without significant results and without a title

This represents a significant moral blow for Naomi Osaka, who concludes her season with a bittersweet taste and the feeling of facing 2027 almost as an ultimatum in her sports career. 

On the other hand, Leylah Fernández was a positive protagonist in the WTA 500 Tokyo 2026, clearly on the rise. The Canadian defeated Mertens and is awaiting Elena Rybakina in the quarterfinals, provided the Kazakh can overcome her compatriot, Putintseva, in her tournament debut. The event held in the capital of Japan has experienced major upheaval.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Debacle total de Osaka ante su público en Tokio