Naomi Osaka may have suffered a tough loss at the Miami Open, but she is keeping her spirits high.
After falling to Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in a hard-fought three-set match, Osaka took to Instagram to share her gratitude and determination, vowing to return stronger.
Following the match, Osaka posted a series of photos and videos on Instagram, capturing moments from her Miami Open journey. Alongside the visuals, she shared an emotional message with her fans.
“Miami I love you so much, thank you for the energy and the memories, I’ll be back sooner than you think,” Osaka wrot.
Osaka’s match against Paolini marked their first-ever meeting on the WTA Tour. Per Sporskeeda, Osaka started strong, breaking Paolini’s serve three times to claim the first set 6-3.
However, the momentum shifted in the second set when Paolini secured an early break and maintained control, leveling the match with a 6-4 set win.
In the decisive third set, Paolini managed another crucial break, edging Osaka 6-4 to advance to the quarterfinals. Despite the loss, Osaka showed impressive form, creating multiple break opportunities and pushing the No. 6 seed to her limits.
During her post-match press conference, Osaka remained upbeat, expressing satisfaction with her effort and fighting spirit.
“Definitely disappointed with the loss, but I'm really happy with how much I fought,” she said. “Maybe last year, definitely, probably, wouldn’t have fought like that towards the end.”
She also acknowledged Paolini’s skill, noting that she had never faced the Italian before and was surprised by her aggressive play.
“She kind of reminds me of Cibulkova a little bit, just based on the height part. So yeah, really great player, obviously,” Osaka said.
With her determination and the unwavering support of her fans, Naomi Osaka remains a strong contender on the WTA Tour, proving that her journey back to the top is far from over.
