Naomi Osaka exits French Open after tough loss to Paula Badosa
Naomi Osaka’s French Open return ends in heartbreak as Paula Badosa mounts comeback in dramatic three-set battle.
 |
| Naomi Osaka of Japan reacts during her women’s singles match against Paula Badosa of Spain on Day 2 of the French Open at Court Philippe-Chatrier in the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris, on May 26, 2025. Photo by Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP |
By Randy Ahmad and Widya Putri
Naomi Osaka’s much-anticipated return to the French Open ended in heartbreak on Monday, as the four-time Grand Slam champion bowed out in the first round following a gripping three-set defeat to Spain’s Paula Badosa. The match, marked by emotional intensity and physical struggles, concluded 6-7 (1), 6-1, 6-4 in Badosa’s favor.
The early exit marked another difficult chapter for Osaka at Roland Garros, a tournament where she has yet to progress beyond the third round. Her return this year carried heightened expectations, especially as she entered the clay court major with a recent title win on the surface and under the guidance of renowned coach Patrick Mouratoglou.
Yet despite glimpses of brilliance—including a dominant first-set tiebreak—the Japanese star could not maintain her momentum, ultimately undone by a mix of injury concerns, missed opportunities, and Badosa’s tenacious comeback.
Osaka starts strong but fades as Badosa rallies
Osaka opened the match with aggressive intent, fending off a set point and ultimately clinching the opening frame in a commanding tiebreak. It looked as though she had found her rhythm on the demanding Paris clay.
But Badosa, the 10th seed and former top-ten player herself, flipped the script in the second set. The Spaniard stormed through five straight games and closed out the set 6-1, exposing vulnerabilities in Osaka’s game that have lingered since her return to the WTA Tour earlier this season.
The decider offered a glimmer of hope as Osaka broke early for a 2-0 lead. However, Badosa responded with immediate composure, breaking back and seizing the pivotal break in the seventh game. From there, she held her nerve to serve out the match and secure passage to the second round.
“I hate disappointing people,” a visibly emotional Osaka said afterward. “Even with Patrick [Mouratoglou], I was thinking—he goes from working with the greatest player ever to... this? You know what I mean?”
Osaka’s defeat wasn’t just about scorelines. Her struggle was as much psychological and physical as it was tactical. The 27-year-old took a medical timeout between the first and second sets, later revealing she was dealing with blisters on her hands—a lingering issue from the Italian Open in Rome.
“Since Rome, I’ve had blisters on my hands. I think it’s from the friction of the clay, because I don’t have them on any other surface,” she explained.
In addition to the blisters, Osaka seemed burdened by the emotional weight of her comeback. After missing the entire 2023 season following the birth of her daughter, her return has been met with both excitement and scrutiny. Despite winning a lower-tier clay title this month and climbing back into the top 50, Osaka still appears to be searching for the confidence and consistency that once made her a dominant force in the sport.
“I think as time goes on, I feel like I should be doing better,” she admitted, reflecting on her expectations and the pressure she places on herself.
For Badosa, the match represented a personal and symbolic triumph. Plagued by injuries throughout the clay season, she had managed only two matches on the surface prior to Roland Garros. But on Monday, she demonstrated mental resilience and drew inspiration from none other than Rafael Nadal.
“When I was 7-6 down, the first thing I did was look over there,” Badosa said, referring to the commemorative imprint of Nadal’s footstep at Philippe Chatrier, unveiled during his farewell ceremony on Sunday. “To get inspiration from Rafa. I’m like, ‘Come on Paula, you have to fight like he was.’”
That rallying cry propelled her through the final two sets as she capitalized on Osaka’s fading energy and uncertainty.
A challenging road ahead for Osaka
Osaka’s French Open journey ends abruptly, but her season continues with eyes on Wimbledon and the U.S. hard court swing later this summer. The partnership with Mouratoglou, still in its early stages, may yet bear fruit as she adapts to life on tour as both a new mother and a player rebuilding from the ground up.
Her appearance at Roland Garros was marked not just by performance, but also by style. Sporting cherry blossom-themed shoes and floral nail art, Osaka made a visual statement that mirrored her effort to reassert her identity both on and off the court.
Still, the questions surrounding her ability to consistently contend at the highest level remain. Whether due to physical setbacks, emotional weight, or the sheer grind of elite competition, Osaka’s path back to Grand Slam success will require resilience—and patience.
As she processes another tough loss, one thing remains certain: Naomi Osaka continues to command attention, not just for her tennis but for the candor and vulnerability she brings to the sport.
Her next test awaits. But for now, her French Open story closes with a reminder of the challenges that even champions must confront.
Osaka’s fans will hope that this defeat serves not as a setback but as a building block. With more matches, improved fitness, and deeper synergy with Mouratoglou, she may yet rediscover the form that once made her one of the most formidable competitors in women’s tennis.
Meanwhile, Paula Badosa’s gritty win keeps her alive in the tournament as she aims to rediscover her own peak after battling injuries. If Monday's comeback is any indication, her fighting spirit remains very much intact.
As Roland Garros rolls on, both players—though at different points in their respective journeys—remain compelling figures in the ongoing narrative of women's tennis.
More in Tennis
- Rafael Nadal's emotional retirement year reveals tennis farewell awkwardness
- Novak Djokovic eyes 25th Grand Slam title at French Open amid form slump
- Iga Swiatek faces uphill battle to reclaim French Open crown
