Naomi Osaka Breaks Silence After Emma Raducanu’s Underdog Run Silences Doubters: “Looking and Waiting”
Naomi Osaka has broken her silence following her straight-sets defeat to Emma Raducanu at the Citi DC Open on July 24, 2025, offering a reflective and forward-looking response as Raducanu’s underdog run continues to silence doubters. The four-time Grand Slam champion, who fell 6-4, 6-2 in an 82-minute match at the William H.G. Fitzgerald Tennis Center in Washington, D.C., spoke candidly in her post-match press conference about the loss, which marked her earliest exit in the tournament. Osaka expressed a mix of confusion and resilience, stating, “I think all losses suck a lot. But I don’t know. I’m also a little confused why I’m okay right now compared to other matches in the past.” She attributed her calm demeanor to a clearer plan moving forward, hinting at a buildup of lessons from her 2025 season, and added, “I guess it depends on the tolerance of the player.”
Osaka’s comments come after Raducanu, ranked No. 46, delivered a standout performance, leveraging a 76% first-serve win rate and breaking Osaka’s serve three times, while Osaka struggled with seven double faults. The Japanese star, returning from maternity leave since January 2024, acknowledged Raducanu’s dominance, noting, “I think there are certain situations where she got one more ball back and I was kind of just looking and waiting.” This phrase, “looking and waiting,” encapsulates Osaka’s current mindset—observing Raducanu’s rise while preparing her own comeback. She further reflected on her game, admitting, “I’ve been working on my return a lot… Today the percentages were off, so hopefully improving that,” signaling her intent to refine her skills.
The loss adds to Osaka’s challenges this year, including early exits at the French Open and Wimbledon, and a title at the WTA 125K in Saint-Malo, amid ongoing struggles to regain her pre-maternity form. Meanwhile, Raducanu’s victory—her best by ranking since May—has silenced critics who questioned her consistency post-2021 US Open, boosting her live ranking to No. 39 and reclaiming the British No. 1 spot. Osaka’s pre-match remark to Ben Rothenberg, “I just hope she has a lot of really good people around her,” showed empathy for Raducanu’s injury-plagued journey, a sentiment that persisted post-match as she wished her well.
Osaka’s “looking and waiting” stance suggests a strategic pause rather than defeat, with plans to analyze and adapt, possibly eyeing a future rematch. As of 07:05 PM WAT on July 25, 2025, her silence has been broken with a tone of hope, contrasting Raducanu’s rising momentum, setting the stage for an intriguing narrative as both navigate their respective paths in the tennis world.
