Naomi Osaka has never been afraid to stand out, both on and off the tennis court. After a tough fourth-round loss at the US Open, the four-time Grand Slam champion hit back at critics who questioned her bold fashion choices with the match outfits. Taking to social media, the Japanese shared a strong message about accepting the backlash and pushing forward to create an easier path for future generations.
Naomi Osaka Responds to Critics After US Open Exit as She Addresses Backlash Over Her Outfits
The four-time Grand Slam winner’s US Open campaign came to an end with a 6-1, 6-4 loss to World No. 2 Elena Rybakina. While fans celebrated her return to the second week of a Grand Slam, critics online focused on the custom-designed outfits she wore as she entered the court. The 28-year-old later took to Threads to address her critics directly with a candid message.
“You know… idgaf if you don’t like me,” Osaka wrote. “I don’t mind being the first to do something and getting trashed for it. This happened when I talked about mental health and for some reason it’s happening with my clothes lol. I’m literally Haitian it’s in my blood to be this way, as long as the people after me have an easier path it’s worth it.”
Her reference to mental health goes back to 2021, when she withdrew from the French Open after being fined for skipping press conferences because of severe performance anxiety.
At the US Open, fans have been pointing out assumptions about the former World No. 1’s mental health from broadcasters. Just days before facing Rybakina, a television commentator speculated that Osaka was having a “mental health issue” during her match against Elise Mertens simply because she was struggling on court.
Despite the media noise and a nagging Achilles injury that limited her movement against Rybakina, Osaka now has a different perspective on her career. In 2023, she stepped away from the tour for a year to give birth to her daughter, Shai, and no longer measures her life solely by wins and trophies.
“If I reflect on my career and the things I’ve been able to do, there’s nothing that I regret,” Osaka reflected after her loss. “I had a kid, you know? There’s a lot that happened in that time. My daughter is healthy, everyone in my family is great. I had an opportunity to play this slam. I got as far as I could. So it’s only up from here.”
She also said in her presser that her “main job” is being a mother, and tennis is a “side hustle.”
Osaka will be focusing on recovery before the Asian swing. With the fourth-round win, Rybakina will now face Qinwen Zheng in the quarterfinals.
