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Naomi Osaka Faces Early Exit at French Open Amid Nail Clipping Incident
Naomi Osaka, a celebrated four-time Grand Slam champion, experienced a challenging start at the French Open on Monday. The event, held annually at Roland Garros, saw her falter in the first round against 10th-seeded Paula Badosa.
Entering the match in vibrant all-pink attire inspired by Japan’s cherry blossoms, Osaka struggled from the outset. An unusual mid-match interruption occurred when she needed to clip her nails, which contributed to her performance issues. Ultimately, Osaka racked up a staggering total of 54 unforced errors during the match.
Badosa secured victory with a score of 6-7 (1), 6-1, 6-4, leaving Osaka visibly upset in the aftermath of her defeat. Following the match, Osaka candidly expressed her disappointment, stating, “As time goes on, I feel like I should be doing better. But I also hate disappointing people.”
The former world No. 1 athlete also shared her feelings of regret over not meeting the expectations of her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, a seasoned mentor who has previously guided tennis greats like Serena Williams.
Reflecting on her performance, Osaka said, “He goes from working with, like, the greatest player ever to, like, ‘What the f— is this?’ You know what I mean? Sorry for cursing. I hope I don’t get fined.”
Hand Blisters Contribute to Struggles
As if the nail clipping incident were not enough, Osaka also dealt with blisters on her hands during the match. She attributed these issues to the clay courts, which seem to exacerbate her condition.
“Since Rome, I have had blisters on my hands,” Osaka explained. “I think it’s from the friction of clay, because I don’t have blisters on any other surface. But I was kind of used to it, as I also had to ask for the physio in Rome.”
Osaka’s Career Trajectory
Osaka’s past accolades include dominating victories at the 2018 U.S. Open and the 2019 Australian Open, followed by a repeat win at the U.S. Open in 2020 and clinching the Australian Open title in 2021. However, the French Open and Wimbledon have consistently presented challenges for her.
Historically, Osaka has never advanced beyond the third round at the French Open, a statistic that continues to haunt her. Despite her impressive career, the clay courts of Roland Garros have proven to be a formidable hurdle.
Looking Ahead to Wimbledon
In the wake of her disappointing French Open performance, Osaka remained uncertain about her plans for the upcoming Wimbledon tournament. When asked, she said, “I don’t necessarily know my grass-season schedule right now. I wasn’t really expecting to lose in the first round.”
The future remains uncertain for Osaka, as she contemplates her next steps in the sport. Fans and critics alike are eager to see how she will respond to this setback and whether she can reclaim her form in future competitions.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Stay tuned for ongoing coverage of Naomi Osaka and the latest updates in tennis.
