Naomi Osaka has broken her silence on the storm that followed her post-match remarks in Canada, addressing the controversy head-on during a press conference ahead of the 2025 US Open. The four-time Grand Slam champion admitted she mishandled the moment after her loss in the Canadian Open final but emphasized that she has since spoken with teenage champion Victoria Mboko to clear the air.
Why Did Naomi Osaka Face Backlash After the Canadian Open Final?
The issue stemmed from Osaka’s runner-up speech in Toronto earlier this month, where she was criticized for delivering a brief statement that failed to acknowledge Mboko’s milestone victory. The 18-year-old Canadian had just claimed her first WTA title with a 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 comeback win over the former world No. 1, becoming one of the youngest champions in her country’s history.
VICTORIA MBOKO WINS THE NATIONAL BANK OPEN 🤩🇨🇦#OBN25 | @OBNmontreal pic.twitter.com/SOa3RN2vLb
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 8, 2025
Naomi Osaka after losing to Victoria Mboko in Montreal final
“I don’t really wanna take up too much time. I’ll just say thank you to everyone. Thank you to my team, the ball kids, organizers, & volunteers. I hope you guys had a good night.”
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 8, 2025
While Mboko tearfully paid tribute to Osaka and called her an inspiration, fans felt Osaka’s omission was dismissive, sparking backlash online. The criticism intensified after she was penalized in the match for hitting a ball into the stands out of frustration.
In the immediate aftermath of the Canadian Open final, Osaka did not face reporters but instead sent comments through the WTA, acknowledging she had forgotten to recognize Mboko’s achievement. Shortly after, she posted a longer apology on her social media accounts, directly congratulating Mboko and expressing regret for her oversight.
Speaking in New York ahead of the season’s final major, Osaka reflected on how she handled the presentation and what she learned from it. “I made sure to talk to her [Victoria Mboko] because I know she’s young and I feel really terrible if that somehow impacted her humongous success,” Osaka said.
“But she said it didn’t and she didn’t even notice. So, I was really glad about that. And I was also glad that she’s such a sweet girl, which also made me feel terrible even more. But yeah, I don’t know. I feel like I was just trying to get through it [trophy ceremony] so quickly that I forgot a lot of things. And even going into the final, I wanted to potentially write my speech because I know how I am talking, and doing speeches.”
She concluded: “So, that was kind of a lesson to stick to my instinct a little. But, I will definitely remember to congratulate my opponents.”
After finishing as runner-up in Montreal, Osaka quickly turned her attention to the U.S. Open. She partnered with Gaël Monfils in the revamped mixed doubles event, aiming for a share of the $1 million prize, but they were eliminated in the first round by Lorenzo Musetti and Caty McNally, 5-3, 4-2.
The early exit gives Osaka more time to focus on singles, where she has won two Flushing Meadows titles. She will open against Belgium’s Greet Minnen, whom she defeated in straight sets at last year’s Madrid Open. The winner will face either Hailey Baptiste or Kateřina Siniaková.
