Courtesy: OsakaNaomi
Naomi Osaka gave tennis fans a significant scare on Saturday. She retired from the Bad Homburg Open final after just 46 minutes on court. However, the 28-year-old dropped strong hints on Sunday that she plans to compete at Wimbledon. She is seeded 14th at the tournament and faces Elsa Jacquemot in the opening round on Monday.
Osaka retired during the second set against Czech player Karolina Muchova. Muchova led 6-1, 1-0 when play stopped. Osaka did not immediately disclose the nature or severity of the injury. However, she spoke to reporters on Sunday after completing her first practice session on the Wimbledon grass. Her assessment was cautiously encouraging.
What Osaka said about her condition
Osaka was measured but positive about her physical state. She acknowledged she could be feeling better. At the same time, she noted she could also be feeling worse. She described the situation as manageable rather than alarming. She called her first London practice good overall. She noted the conditions differed from Germany due to windier weather and a different court surface.
Her plan for Monday is to assess how her warm-up goes before making a final call. That approach shows some uncertainty about her readiness. However, it also reflects a determination to compete rather than withdraw early. She wants to give herself every possible chance.
Beyond the physical side, Osaka took genuine positives from her Bad Homburg run. She reached the final by winning four consecutive straight-sets matches. She described that run as somewhat unusual for her. She tends to get distracted during matches. She noted particular satisfaction with her mental focus throughout the week. Specifically, she highlighted her ability to respond immediately after losing serve rather than letting momentum slip. She expressed hope that resilience would carry over onto the Wimbledon grass.
The emotional toll of another pre-tournament injury setback
Osaka projected calm determination on Sunday. However, she did not hide her frustration. She described feeling sad rather than nervous. She drew a clear distinction between anxiety and disappointment.
She noted that she reached a final at the same stage last year and could not play that match either. The parallel clearly stings. Nevertheless, she reframed the situation positively. She has another opportunity at Wimbledon. Her focus now centers on staying as healthy as possible heading into Monday.
Her broader approach to tennis this season has shifted toward a more carefree mindset. She stepped back from results-oriented pressure. Instead, she focuses on simply competing and enjoying the process. The Bad Homburg run, four commanding victories before the abrupt retirement, suggests that shift is working.
What to expect at Wimbledon
Osaka’s Monday opener against Jacquemot presents a significant test. That is true regardless of her physical condition. Wimbledon has historically proven the most difficult major for Osaka to go deep in. Her best results there stand at third-round exits in 2017, 2018 and 2025. Last year, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova ended her run at that stage.
Her 14th seeding reflects real progress. She has rebuilt both her ranking and her form over the past year. If she comes through the early rounds healthy and mentally focused, she has strong reason to believe this Wimbledon could deliver her best result yet at SW19.
For now, all attention turns to Monday’s warm-up and the first serve against Jacquemot. Osaka appears ready and willing to play. The key question is how her body holds up once the matches truly begin to matter.
Source: Daily Express
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