Naomi Osaka suffers disappointing second round loss to Karolína Muchová at the US Open

CNN —

Former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka’s run at this year’s US Open ended in the second round with a 6-3, 7-6(5) defeat to the Czech Republic’s Karolína Muchová on Thursday.

Naomi Osaka, of Japan, reacts after defeating Jelena Ostapenko, of Latvia, during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Related article Naomi Osaka records first top 10 win in more than four years to reach US Open second round

Osaka has previously enjoyed success at Flushing Meadows and won the tournament in 2018 and 2020, but hasn’t been able to recapture that form this season after returning from maternity leave at the start of the campaign. She missed last year’s tournament after giving birth to her daughter.

The Japanese star spoke after the match about the impact that defeats have on her.

“It’s a little rough because I do take these losses really personally,” she said. “It’s like a dramatic word, but I feel like my heart dies every time I lose. I’ve been trying to be more mature and learn and talk more about them.

“I think, during the pressure moments, I got nervous and I don’t know if I just have to keep playing more matches and get used to that feeling, especially on a really big stage. Honestly, if I get past the disappointment, I feel pretty proud of myself to have gotten that many opportunities while still feeling like I could have played much better.”

Muchová broke Osaka’s fearsome serve in the seventh game of a tight first set that saw the two players combine for only eight unforced errors.

The Czech broke again in the final game of the set before holding serve to open the second, making it five games in a row. She had three break points in the second game,