Osaka believes she can still win another Grand Slam title after Wimbledon loss

Naomi Osaka believes she can still win a fifth Grand Slam title. This is despite losing a chance in the quarter-finals at Wimbledon on Tuesday.

The Japanese player won her last Grand Slam at the 2021 Australian Open. She had hopes of ending a five-year wait when she beat world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the last 16 at Wimbledon.

But Osaka could not keep that momentum going. She lost to Czech player Karolina Muchova, who is seeded 10th, with scores of 7-6 (7/4), 6-4.

This loss adds to her recent struggles in Grand Slam events. Last year, she lost to Amanda Anisimova in the semi-finals of the US Open.

"I know my results don’t show it, but whenever I play a Slam, my intention is to win," Osaka said. She had never gone past the third round at Wimbledon before.

"Obviously last year I got to the semis (at the US Open). I wanted so desperately to be in the final to have that opportunity, but Amanda played insane…"

"This one is a little more upsetting to me because I feel like there was so much more I could have done."

Osaka thinks she should find the positive side. She reached the quarter-finals and believes she can still improve as a player.

"I feel like in my head I think there’s still an opportunity to win a Slam," she added.

Osaka won two Australian Opens and two US Opens between 2018 and 2021. She was ranked number one in the world during that time.

Later, she took a break to focus on her mental health. After returning to the WTA Tour, she struggled to find her best form.

Osaka did not play in 2023 because she gave birth to her first child. Now, at 28 years old, she is working her way back up the rankings. She reached the last 16 at the French Open last month for the first time.

"The tournament as a whole, it’s the furthest I’ve gotten here," Osaka said about her Wimbledon performance.

"For me, that’s a positive. Obviously I would have loved to get a lot farther."

"If I think about my match today, it’s hard for me to immediately think of something positive. I feel like it’s hard because I played so well in my last match, then today I just feel like I didn’t play well at all and I didn’t have any energy."

"I mean, the score was pretty good for what it was, I guess."

Now, Osaka will focus on the hard-court season. This is the surface where she has won all seven of her WTA titles, including her four Grand Slam trophies.