Naomi Osaka had a dominant start to her Italian Open campaign as she defeated home favorite Sara Errani 6-2, 6-3 in the first round. She followed it with a miraculous comeback against lucky loser Viktorija Golubic 2-6, 7-5, 6-1. After her first triumph, Osaka said that opening up about her nerves to coach Patrick Mouratoglou before Saint-Malo helped her mentally.
Naomi Osaka Explains Why She Held Back Her True Feelings Before Crucial Conversation with Patrick Mouratoglou
Osaka started the clay-court season at the 2025 Madrid Open, where she suffered a shocking first-round exit after falling to Lucia Bronzetti 4-6, 6-2, 4-6. Upset by her performance, Osaka later shared on Threads that she wouldn’t wish the thoughts going through her mind even on her worst enemy. She later got past the ordeal with a positive message.
The Japanese has turned the tide in recent weeks, winning her career’s first clay court trophy at the L’Open 35 de Saint-Malo before her campaign in Rome. Osaka revealed in her post-match press conference at the Italian Open that she keeps her problems to herself to avoid burdening others, even her coach, Mouratoglou.
“Yeah, I mean, I would say for me, I hate inconveniencing people. I don’t really like to talk to people if I have problems. I’d rather just solve it by myself. In that aspect, like, obviously with Patrick we talk, but sometimes I don’t tell him exactly what I’m thinking,” she said.
The 27-year-old added that discussing her feelings with her coach, especially her nerves before Saint-Malo, helped her handle her Madrid Open setback better.
“After Madrid, going into Saint-Malo, we had a conversation about me telling him exactly how I feel before going into matches. Even today (in the opening round) I told him that I was nervous obviously because I want to do well here coming off of the win that I just had. So that definitely helped a lot,” she added.
‘Really Glad That I Got To Go to Madrid’: Naomi Osaka on Her Stay in the Spanish Capital
Osaka later expressed that maintaining gratitude for life and health has helped her greatly. The Japanese also appreciated being in Madrid despite facing an early loss.
“Yeah, I think overall just being grateful for life, for I guess being healthy, has helped me out a lot. I think as a tennis player, as a tennis person, I care so much about winning that I don’t see, like, the full picture sometimes. Really glad that I got to go to Madrid and enjoy the city, even though I lost in the first round. I’m happy to be here, too,” she said.
The four-time Major champion faces either Beatriz Haddad Maia or Marie Bouzkova in the third round of the Italian Open as she looks to extend her winning streak.
Sometimes it’s called:: taking the bull by its horns! Facing ones inner problems and being able to talk about them to a person who will underdtand, can really help!