Osaka says she’ll return stronger after latest low, Tokyo exit to Pohankova

What the report says

Naomi Osaka’s return to the top level of women’s tennis suffered another setback in Tokyo, where the former world number one lost in the second round of the Pan Pacific Open to 18-year-old Slovak Mia Pohankova. Al Jazeera, citing AFP, reported that Pohankova won 6-3, 7-5 and advanced after a match in which she used strong serving and broke Osaka several times. Pohankova is ranked 144 in the world.

Osaka said after the defeat that she would continue trying to regain the form that carried her to four Grand Slam titles. She said she felt comfortable with her game overall, but acknowledged she has not yet put herself in position to contend for another major title. The loss also ended her season in Japan, where she was appearing at the Pan Pacific Open for the first time in four years.

The report said Osaka, now ranked 18th, has not won a title this year and has not reached a Grand Slam final since returning to tennis after a 15-month break following the birth of her daughter in 2023. The article also noted her ongoing interest in fashion, including her custom outfits at major tournaments, which she described as a creative outlet. Elsewhere in the draw, Canada’s Leylah Fernandez moved into the quarterfinals after beating Belgium’s Elise Mertens.