Naomi Osaka posted a cryptic message just days after a shocking second-round exit at the 2025 China Open. The Japanese star was stunned by qualifier Aliaksandra Sasnovich, despite having made a strong impression in recent tournaments, particularly during the North American hard-court swing.
At the 2025 US Open, Osaka showcased her full potential, defeating Greet Minnen, Hailey Baptiste, Daria Kasatkina, and Coco Gauff before overcoming Karolína Muchová to reach the semifinals. However, home favorite Amanda Anisimova proved a formidable opponent, ousting Osaka in a grueling three-set battle.
What Did Naomi Osaka Share Days After the China Open Setback?
Riding high off a stellar North American hard-court swing, Osaka seemed poised for a deep run at the 2025 China Open. However, her campaign was cut short sooner than expected.
Osaka entered her second-round clash with Sasnovich as the clear favorite, having won all four of their previous encounters. She dominated early, taking the first set 6-1, and it seemed the match was firmly in her grasp until the momentum swung decisively in favor of the Belarusian.
Sasnovich took the second set 6-4, pushing the match to a decider. Riding her momentum, she won 10 of the final 13 games and dominated the Japanese further to secure the third set 6-2 and, most importantly, the win.
Osaka has long been known for openly sharing her emotions after matches, often on social media. This time, however, her true sentiments seemed unclear as she shared a cryptic message on Threads.
“Omg I think I have reached enlightenment,” she wrote.
View on Threads
After a modest six winners in the first set, Sasnovich surged to 21 over the next two. Osaka, conversely, went from eight unforced errors to 33 in sets two and three. The Belarusian also sharpened her serve, achieving a 64% first-serve rate in the latter stages.
What Did Osaka Say After Her Shocking China Open Exit?
During her post-match press conference, Osaka candidly acknowledged that her performance fell short, though she was pleased with her effort. The former World No. 1 also expressed hope of playing stronger in the upcoming tournaments of the Asian swing.
“Honestly I don’t think I played well, but I tried to fight. So I’m happy with that. Yeah, it was the first match since the US Open, so just going to work on a couple things and hopefully play better in the next tournaments,” she added.
Osaka’s season has seen highs and lows, with her North American swing being a major highlight, pushing her into the WTA top 15. She currently holds a 32-13 record and looks to carry that form into future events.
