On a day that saw several top seeds suffer major upsets, Naomi Osaka bucked the trend by surviving a scare in her third-round encounter. Despite securing the win, the former world No. 1 felt the need to apologize to the crowd at Louis Armstrong Stadium and the young fans watching from home.
Why Naomi Osaka Apologized After Her Third-Round Win at the US Open
Osaka has already been tested by several tough battles at the US Open as she looks to win her fifth Grand Slam title and her first since giving birth to her daughter, Shai, in July 2023. She kicked off her campaign with a hard-fought 7-6(6), 7-6(3) win over Anastasia Zakharova before beating Kateřina Siniaková 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 in the second round.
The four-time Grand Slam champion endured another challenging showdown against Elise Mertens in the third round. Although Osaka won the first set, Mertens responded admirably by clinching the second to force a decider.
Mertens carried her momentum into the third set, securing a break of serve to take a 3-2 lead. Subsequently, Osaka called for a medical timeout while trailing 3-4 and received treatment on her left leg.
Despite raising fitness concerns, the former world No. 1 fought back strongly to break Mertens’ serve and went on to hold a 6-5 lead. She then squandered three match points but ultimately converted her fourth to seal a 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 victory.
During her on-court interview, Osaka extended her heartfelt gratitude to the crowd for their support, while admitting she was shocked that she had managed to pull off the win.
“Honestly, I can’t believe I won this match. Thank you guys for staying and cheering me on. There was a certain point like I don’t know, I felt like I put my entire heart on the court. And then I just kept trying every single point and you guys were cheering me on. So, thank you so much. I’m literally shocked that I won this match. I’m not even going to lie to you,” Osaka said.
The 28-year-old also expressed regret about letting her frustration and “negative” emotions get the better of her during the tough encounter. She apologized for her behavior, particularly for the young children watching.
“Honestly, I didn’t feel like I played amazing, and it was really getting me down, like I was very negative on myself, so I’m really sorry about my behavior. For the little kids watching, I’m really sorry. This is my favorite tournament so I really wanted to play well in front of you guys. I’m really glad that I have an opportunity to play another match,” Osaka said.
Naomi Osaka after beating Elise Mertens to reach US Open R16
“Honestly, I didn’t feel like I played amazing, and it was really getting me down, like I was very negative on myself, so I’m really sorry about my behavior. For the little kids watching, I’m really sorry.”
“This is… pic.twitter.com/Pm3oZgBjKh
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 6, 2026
Up next, Naomi Osaka will lock horns with Elena Rybakina in the fourth round of the US Open, marking their second tour-level encounter. Rybakina will enter the match with an advantage, having secured a 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 victory in their Canadian Open showdown in August.
The winner of the blockbuster clash between Osaka and Rybakina is set to face either Iga Świątek or Zheng Qinwen in the quarterfinals.
