Naomi Osaka: Losing was probably the best thing that could’ve happened to me

French Open
Naomi Osaka dejected PA

World number one Naomi Osaka says that the stresses of expectation and ambition contributed to her poor showing at the French Open.

Osaka won the last two Grand Slams in the US and then Australia, and went to Roland Garros as the top seed for a major for the first time in her career.

However, after two grueling comeback victories, she eventually fell to Katerina Siniakova 6-4, 6-2 in the third round at Roland Garros.

“Losing is probably the best thing that could have happened,” said 21-year-old Osaka.

“I felt very tired. In the other matches I had headaches — maybe that’s the stress. I felt there was a weight on me. This hasn’t been the happiest of times.

“On a disappointment level of 1-10 — I am probably at a 100 at the moment.”

Osaka also admitted that her dreams of completing a clean sweep of all of the Grand Slams also contributed to her downfall in Paris.

“I was overthinking this calendar Grand Slam thing,” she said.

“It’s something I wanted to do forever, but if it was that easy, everybody would have done it.

“I have to work hard now to put myself in the position to do it again. I’m peacing out of this tournament.”

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