Naomi Osaka on things coming full circle, Rafael Nadal having a blast - Australian Open diary

Osaka’s poignant exit interview It was great to hear Naomi Osaka sound so positive following her narrow defeat to Amanda Anisimova on Friday, which saw the Japanese star’s Australian Open title defence come to an end in the third round. Ad/> Osaka held two match points against her American opponent, but ultimately fell in a deciding set tiebreak. /> Australian OpenAustralian Open Top 5 shots of Day 5 — featuring some sensational rallies5 HOURS AGO The former world No.1 has spoken openly about her mental health struggles last season and started 2022 with a fresh perspective, looking to enjoy her time on tour and putting less emphasis on wins and losses, focusing instead on the process and journey.

After the loss to Anisimova, Osaka said the match was “fun to play” and felt content with the effort she put in throughout the contest. The most poignant moment of her press conference came when she shared her perspective on her own losses, and what they mean for her opponents and for the sport, rather than for herself. “To me, it's exciting.

Not the loss itself, but, like, the person I lost to, because it's like showing the growth of tennis,” said the 24-year-old Osaka. “I feel like now I'm in this position where if I lose to someone, it might make a headline, but I also think it kind of grows more superstars, and I feel like that's good for the game. “So it's kind of like everything is coming in full circle.” What an incredible way to look at things.