NAOMI OSAKA GETS PAINFULLY HONEST ON WHAT CAUSED WIMBLEDON LOSS

Naomi Osaka's Wimbledon return didn't last long after Emma Navarro made quick work of her in their second-round showdown on Wednesday. Osaka, however, is well aware of her shortcomings in the contest.

Osaka, who just returned to the tour in January after serving a 15-month break to give birth and be a mother, has been on and off the tennis court over the past three years as she also struggled with her mental health.

The former world No. 1 is clearly still working her way back to top form, and that was clear after Navarro beat her in straight sets 6-4, 6-1. More than her conditioning, though, Osaka attributed the loss to her self-doubt and lack of confidence.

“Even though in the beginning, it was kind of like we were trading games, I don’t know why, (but) I didn’t feel fully confident in myself. I didn’t feel like I was playing that well," Osaka shared, per Associated Press.

"I guess those doubts started trickling in a lot (and) into my game."

Naomi Osaka has never been dominant on the grass or clay, with all her four Grand Slam wins coming on hard courts at the U.S. Open and Australian Open. It's also worth mentioning that she last played in the tournament in 2019, and prior to her first-round win on Monday, the 26-year-old last won a match in the All England Club in 2018.

With that being said, it shouldn't really be that surprising to see Osaka struggle. Hopefully, though, she'll be able to overcome her confidence issues as she tries to get back to the top.

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2024-07-04T14:23:51Z dg43tfdfdgfd