‘What the f**k is this’: Naomi Osaka’s brutal self criticism rocks tennis

Four-time grand slam champion Naomi Osaka left herself in tears and the tennis world stunned after a brutal self assessment.

It was a rough outing at the French Open for Naomi Osaka.

The former No. 1 player in the world bowed out in the first round with a loss to Paula Badosa on Monday — and her emotions spiralled a bit from there.

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“As time goes on I feel like I should be doing better,” Osaka said with tears in her eyes following her match. “I hate disappointing people.”

Osaka expanded on her disappointing people while referencing her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, who also coached Serena Williams in the past.

“ (Mouratoglou) goes from working with, like, the greatest player ever to, like, ‘What the f**k is this?’ You know what I mean?” Osaka said. “Sorry for cursing. I hope I don’t get fined.”

The emotion got to much for Osaka, who appeared to be unable to hold it together as she walked away from the press conference.

Watch in the video player above.

The tennis world was hoping Osaka was okay. Photo: X

Naomi Osaka couldn't hold it in. Photo: X

Osaka had to leave. Photo: X

The current No. 49 player, Osaka owns four Grand Slam trophies in her career.

Osaka gave birth to her daughter in August 2023 and her return to the court has not gone as planned.

She was on a four-year title drought before winning the L’Open 35 de Saint-Malo, a WTA 125 event held on clay courts in France, earlier this month.

The win marked her first ever title on clay, which seemingly boded well for her chances entering the French Open which is also a clay tournament.

But she was only able to win the first set of three against the 10th-seeded Badosa — and the clay seemed to affect her play.

Osaka needed treatment for blisters after the first set and attributed them to “the friction of clay, because I don’t have blisters on any other surface.”

Naomi Osaka’s comeback has not gone to plan. Photo: AP Photo/Christophe Ena

She committed 54 unforced errors and finished with five double-faults.

In 2021, Osaka withdrew from the French Open, experiencing “huge waves of anxiety” and revealing that she was battling depression.

Similar emotions arose after her devastating loss Monday.

“I don’t necessarily know my grass-season schedule right now,” Osaka said after she briefly stepped away from the press conference overcome with emotion. “I wasn’t really expecting to lose in the first round.”

This story first appeared in the New York Post and was republished with permission.

Originally published as ‘What the f**k is this’: Naomi Osaka’s brutal self criticism rocks tennis