Naomi Osaka’s campaign at the 2025 Wimbledon Championships came to a disappointing end when she fell to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the third round on July 4, 2025. Disappointed with her performance, the Japanese star bluntly revealed later in her press conference that she couldn’t find anything positive from her grass-court swing.
The loss marked another frustrating chapter in what has been a challenging season for the four-time Grand Slam champion. Osaka’s struggles on grass have been well-documented, and this year proved no different despite showing flashes of her former brilliance.
In the wake of Osaka’s recent remarks, former U.S. Open champion Andy Roddick reflected on the contrast between her earlier approach to press conferences and her current openness. The American’s observations highlighted just how much the 26-year-old has evolved in her relationship with the media.
Roddick Highlights Osaka’s Transformation
The former world No. 1 endured a lackluster clay-court season and failed to leave a mark on grass. Following early exits in Berlin and Bad Homburg, Osaka showed some promise by advancing to the third round at Wimbledon. However, her hopes of reaching the fourth round for the first time were dashed after a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 loss to Pavlyuchenkova.
When asked if there were any positives from the grass-court swing, Osaka said she was choosing to be a ‘negative human’ that day, adding that the only meaningful moment was celebrating her daughter Shai’s second birthday. She also admitted during the press conference that she felt ‘nothing’ after her narrow Wimbledon loss on Friday.
Former American player Andy Roddick later shared his views on Osaka’s comments through his YouTube channel. He pointed out the contrast between how she once avoided speaking to the press and how she now openly says exactly what she feels.
“Osaka…It’s interesting…I think she went from someone who didn’t like facing the press, and didn’t really say much, to someone who might not give any fu**s and tells you exactly what she feels all the time,” he said.
The transformation has been remarkable to witness. Osaka’s willingness to be vulnerable in public represents a complete 180 from her previous media approach. Where she once struggled with the spotlight, she now embraces radical honesty about her mental state and performance.
Osaka has previously declined to speak to the media during the 2021 French Open. However, she has become more open about her feelings of late. Notably, after facing a first-round exit at the French Open in May, Osaka admitted that she hates disappointing people, especially her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou.
“After Paris (French Open) she went like ah, I feel like terrible! I let me down. And today she’s like I feel nothing. In Paris I felt everything, and here I lost and I felt nothing. Well, can you take some positives? She’s like I won’t say anything positive about myself for the rest of the day,” Roddick added.
Osaka currently stands at No. 53 in the WTA rankings after her Wimbledon run. The ranking reflects her inconsistent form throughout 2025, though she’s shown glimpses of the player who once dominated women’s tennis.
Andy Roddick Praises Naomi Osaka’s Honesty
Roddick commended Osaka’s honesty and added that everyone should feel comfortable seeking or offering clarity. The former world No. 1 believes her approach, while sometimes jarring, represents authentic communication that’s rare in professional sports.
“And I don’t want to say I enjoy it. The clarity is something I think everyone should feel comfortable in. You ask a question, you should want an honest answer. I know it doesn’t always work that way. We ask for something and then we b*tch about the person who gives us the information,” he said.
More: Naomi Osaka’s Coach Patrick Mouratoglou Addresses Her Wimbledon Defeat
Just a few hours after her defeat, Osaka also accused the media of fixating on her raw emotions in defeat, yet overlooking her positive press conferences after victories. This criticism highlighted her ongoing frustration with how her story gets told, particularly when she’s struggling on court.