Naomi Osaka fought through the nerves and pressure of the bright lights in New York, chasing a return to the deep Grand Slam run fans had missed since 2021. With the stadium still buzzing from her clash with Amanda Anisimova, everyone is asking: Was this tournament a turning point, or just another stop on Osaka’s comeback trail?
Why Did Naomi Osaka Stay Positive After US Open Semifinal Loss?
Naomi Osaka’s run at the US Open ended in a tense semifinal against Wimbledon finalist Amanda Anisimova. After battling for nearly three hours, Osaka fell 6-7 (4), 7-6 (3), 6-3. Right after the match, Osaka reflected on what she gained from her performance at the US Open, which marked her first semifinal at a major since 2021.
Even though Osaka’s bid for another Slam wrapped up in the 2025 US Open semifinals, the former world No. 1 said she is leaving New York with no regrets. Osaka emphasized that she feels proud of everything she put on the court.
“I don’t feel sad. It’s really weird, well, it’s not weird because I just feel that I did the best that I could,” Osaka said in her post-match press conference. “Honestly, it’s kind of inspiring for me because it makes me want to train and get better. Hopefully, I can give it my best shot again and see what happens.”
The 27-year-old made it clear she is more encouraged than anything else by her result. “I think I can’t be mad and upset at myself. I’m happy I lost in the semifinal instead of the first round or the third round or whatever I usually get to,” she added.
Throughout the tournament, Osaka displayed flashes of the game that once made her the most dominant player on hard courts. She battled through tough opponents in each round, never losing her fight on court.
She never gave up.
See you on Saturday, Amanda! pic.twitter.com/bTSnsfMVoz
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 5, 2025
The Japanese star pushed past Greet Minnen, Hailey Baptiste, and No. 13 seed Daria Kasatkina to get to the semifinals. She then stunned two-time major champion Coco Gauff in the fourth round and knocked out Karolína Muchová, booking her biggest Grand Slam run since 2021.
How Did Naomi Osaka’s Journey in 2025 Set Up Her Comeback?
In 2025, Osaka started to look like the player everyone feared at her peak. Her journey back to these moments has been anything but easy.
The Japanese star left tennis in the fall of 2022 following an opening-round exit at the US Open and then pulling out from the Pan Pacific Open. She extended her break to announce her pregnancy in January 2023, welcoming her daughter, Shai, in July 2023.
Although Osaka struggled with inconsistent results initially, she slowly found her groove and kept climbing back up the rankings. She hit a high mark at the Canadian Open earlier in the month, making the final before falling to Victoria Mboko.
This strong performance pushed Osaka up the rankings, earning her the No. 23 seed at the US Open. Heading into Flushing Meadows, she was seen as one of the dangerous floaters in the women’s singles field. After her latest run, Osaka is set to rise to No. 14 in the PIF-WTA rankings next week.
