Tennis isn’t just about the physical grind; it’s a test of emotional resilience as well. The situation on and off the tennis courts can break even the toughest athletes, and recently, the spotlight turned to Naomi Osaka. In her return to the US Open, the Japanese star faced a wave of emotions that led to a poignant moment in her first-round match at Flushing Meadows. 

The former World No. 1 defeated Jelena Ostapenko in her opening match at the tournament. She sent the Latvian player packing with a straight-set win by 6-3, 6-2 to cruise through the second round of Grand Slam. But what followed was indeed emotional as Osaka burst into tears after the match. Players often get emotional after hard-fought wins or after a summit clash, but Osaka getting emotional after a relatively easy victory in the first round took a lot of people by surprise. The Japanese star has now opened up about it.

Taking to her Instagram on Wednesday, Osaka shared a glimpse into her life as she posted an old private snap on her story. Sharing an image from last year, where the Japanese sensation can be seen on crutches, she wrote, “I’ve been asked why I was so emotional yesterday and honestly if you don’t even include coming back from pregnancy, New York being my home etc, this was me a year ago.”

Osaka has faced a lot of challenges recently, revolving around her professional career. She made a comeback to the court this year after a 15-month-long hiatus, following her pregnancy. The Japanese player gave birth to her child in July last year, and could only make a presence as a spectator in the US Open edition of 2023. But as she returned to play at this special venue again, a venue that gave her two of her four grand slams, emotions peaked for her. 

Explaining her struggle, Osaka further wrote, “I legitimately couldn’t walk without pain and I didn’t know if I could play at a high intensity anymore. So yeah this sport means a lot to me.” While Osaka explained why she became so emotional after her first-round win at the US Open 2024, there is another interesting aspect about it. 

When Naomi Osaka revealed how expressing emotions helps her game

Naomi Osaka has often expressed herself on the tennis courts. From breaking down after challenging contests to celebrating her victory with grandeur, the star player has never shied away from expressing her feelings to the world. In an interesting revelation, she admitted that such gestures helped her during the matches.

Speaking in a pre-tournament presser ahead of the US Open, Osaka said, “I feel like it does help me. I think it gives me clarity, and also, I don’t know, lets people know how I’m feeling.” Continuing further, she, however, claimed that she has reduced the intensity of expressing herself. “I think, like, I don’t really do it as much anymore. But I don’t know. It’s like speaking your words into the universe and letting them go. After you see it, you’re kind of just free from the thoughts that muddle your mind.”

As the season progresses, it would be interesting to see if Osaka continues her winning momentum and goes all the way to win the US Open. What do you think?