“I guess I need to learn how to win again,” conceded Naomi Osaka after the premature end of her 2024 Olympic campaign. The four-time Grand Slam champion was far from her best against Angelique Kerber, who emerged victorious at the end. Therefore, Osaka’s wish to take her nation, Japan, forward in the Games seemed like a distant dream. However, that was not the only regret she had after the clash. Now, as she looks back on her time in Paris, a hint of wistfulness creeps into her voice, hinting at her regrets about the road not taken!

For the 26-year-old Japanese player, the Games have been a complex tapestry of emotions, expectations, and experiences, be it on the tennis court or out of it. Not wanting to pass up the opportunity, the former World No. 1 player desired to fully immerse herself in the enchanting town of the city of love. But there was a catch. Most of the players stayed at the Games Village, a dedicated residence for athletes during the Olympics. To help you visualize, the village spans an area equivalent to 70 football pitches, providing space for more than 14,000 athletes and officials. However, some players chose to make their own arrangements to better suit their requirements, and Osaka was one of them. But sadly, it left her with a tinge of regret.

So, during a pre-tournament press conference in Toronto, where she will be playing next, when she was inquired, “I wondered if you could compare your experience in Tokyo 2020 where you had a lot of responsibilities there and cool things that you got to participate in to this time here or not,” Osaka’s confession revealed a different perspective. “I would say in Tokyo I was definitely really stressed. And in Paris I felt like a lot more fun and obviously there were spectators there so it was a lot different but I didn’t stay in the village so that is something that I regret a little bit not having the full experience. Overall, I think it was fun.”

Moreover, she compared her experience to her 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where she made her first tournament appearance since the 2021 French Open. Naturally, it made her more “stressed,” as she carried the pressure of making a stunning comeback. But this season was different. A few months ago, on the same court as Roland Garros, we saw her perform an intense match with the world no. 1 player, Iga Swiatek. Although it ended with her defeat, it surely built a sense of familiarity with the red clay once again. 

Although her 2024 Olympics did not prove to be very fruitful for her, keeping aside all her bitter experiences, she wants to keep a positive outlook for the next Games in Los Angeles 2028. “Hopefully, I can play in LA,” Osaka concluded. Surprisingly, even last time, Naomi Osaka had the same complaint about her Olympic adventure!

Naomi Osaka reveals her sour experience at 2020 Tokyo Olympics

Naomi Osaka, ranked No. 2 at the time, unexpectedly exited the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the third round after a defeat by Marketa Vondrousova. And apart from her on-court experience, she further added how she could not make the most of her time in Tokyo and took an oath to never repeat it. “..I realized that I had regrets about the whole experience (not the torch lighting, though that was [fire emoji] literally), there was a deep sense of sadness for not having more fun for the time I was there,” she wrote on her Instagram post.

Furthermore, the then 26-year-old player added, “Can’t believe I was at the Olympics in Tokyo and I failed to consistently find the immense joy in that. I think that’s gonna be really important in my life going forward, just enjoying the experiences and making the most out of the time no matter how short or long it is lol…” Naomi Osaka’s candor offers a glimpse into the mindset of an elite athlete, where the pursuit of excellence can sometimes lead to missed opportunities. But as she said, hopefully, Osaka would make up for it in the upcoming Games in 2028!