'My heart dies every time I lose' - Osaka after US Open exit

Two-time champion Naomi Osaka said it feels for illustration "my bosom dies each clip I lose" aft her US Open comeback ended successful a second-round conclusion by Karolina Muchova.

Japan's Osaka, who won nan title successful 2018 and 2020, missed past year's tourney aft giving commencement to her girl Shai.

The 26-year-old claimed her first top-10 triumph successful complete 4 years erstwhile she hit Jelena Ostapenko successful nan first round.

However, she could not topple Czech Muchova, losing 6-3 7-6 (7-5) aft squandering 3 group points to unit a decider.

"It's a small unsmooth because I do return these losses really personally. It's for illustration a melodramatic word, but I consciousness for illustration my bosom dies each clip I lose," she said.

"I've been trying to beryllium much mature and study and talk much astir them."

Osaka, who besides won nan Australian Open successful 2019 and 2021, said earlier nan US Open astir not emotion "like I'm successful my body" since her return from maternity leave.

She returned to nan WTA Tour successful January, but has not gone beyond nan quarter-finals of immoderate arena - losing successful nan 2nd information of Wimbledon and successful nan French Open this year, while she fell astatine nan first hurdle astatine nan Australian Open.

Despite nan early exits, nan four-time awesome victor said 2024 had been a "learning year".

"It's been a small difficult because evidently I tin only gauge really I'm doing by results. Like, I consciousness faster. I consciousness better, but I mislaid successful nan 2nd round. So it's a small rough," nan erstwhile world number 1 said.

"But, also, it's been nosy playing a batch of tournaments. It's been a committedness for sure, but I've been capable to spell to different cities that I've ne'er been to."

Having mislaid nan first set, Osaka - to nan delight of nan New York crowd - was conscionable 1 constituent distant from taking Muchova to a 3rd set.

But she missed each 3 set-point opportunities and threw her racquet down successful disgust arsenic her force levelled astatine 5-5.

In nan tie-break, Osaka fto a two-point advantage gaffe and talented Muchova nan triumph erstwhile she slammed a elemental forehand wide.

The 2023 French Open runner-up described her triumph complete Osaka arsenic "the cherry connected top".

Muchova reached nan semi-finals astatine Flushing Meadows past twelvemonth earlier suffering a wrist wounded that would require room and support her sidelined for 10 months.

"This year, nan biggest triumph for maine is that I could play again. I'm really grateful I americium capable to play tennis and I made it here," Muchova said.

She will look Anastasia Potapova successful nan 3rd information aft nan Russian defeated American Varvara Lepchenko.