Naomi Osaka admitted she fell short of her own standards after a shocking second-round loss at the 2025 China Open in Beijing. While the defeat was a clear disappointment, the four-time Grand Slam champion emphasized that her focus is now on finding her rhythm and preparing for a stronger showing in the events to come.
What Went Wrong for Naomi Osaka Against Aliaksandra Sasnovich in Beijing?
The former World No. 1, seeded 12th in the tournament, seemed poised for a deep run after a dominant start. She opened her second-round match against qualifier Aliaksandra Sasnovich by cruising through the first set 6-1.
However, Sasnovich completely turned the match around. She adjusted her game and mounted a stunning comeback, taking the next two sets 6-4, 6-2 to seal the victory in just under two hours. The result marked the Belarusian’s first victory over Osaka in five career meetings.
An incredible moment! 💥
Aliaksandra Sasnovich comes from a set down to defeat No.12 seed Osaka 1-6, 6-4, 6-2.#2025ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/t6RugOpCwT
— wta (@WTA) September 27, 2025
HUGE upset in Beijing.
Sasnovich was AMAZING but big disappointment for Osaka. pic.twitter.com/u0ZJkGIcOw
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) September 27, 2025
Speaking at her post-match press conference, Osaka acknowledged that the performance wasn’t what she hoped for. “Honestly I don’t think I played well, but I tried to fight. So I’m happy with that,” she said.
She also pointed to her lack of recent match play as a factor, noting it was her first competitive outing since her semifinal run at the US Open. “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.
How Has Osaka Performed at the China Open Over the Years?
This early exit was one of Osaka’s poorer showings in Beijing, especially when contrasted with her 2019 title run. The Japanese star first played in the main draw in 2017, where she fell in straight sets to Angelique Kerber in the opening round.
A year later, in 2018, she reached the semifinals but was stopped by Anastasija Sevastova in straight sets. Her career-best performance at the event came in 2019, a memorable run that included victories over Bianca Andreescu and top-seeded Ashleigh Barty on her way to lifting the trophy. In 2024, she made it to the Round of 16 but had to withdraw mid-match because of a back injury.
Following the loss, the Japanese tennis star will head to Wuhan for the WTA 1000 event that begins on Oct. 6. It will be her second appearance at the tournament, after her 2017 debut ended with a three-set loss to Elise Mertens.
