Naomi Osaka admitted she was out for revenge against Karolina Muchova (Image: Getty)
has admitted she was out for “revenge” against Karolina Muchova at the .
The two-time former champion came from a set down to beat the Czech star on Wednesday – months after Muchova ousted her from the US Open.
Afterwards, Osaka explained why she was “so mad” the last time the world No. 20 beat her.
Osaka is back in the third round of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in three years. The former world No. 1 rallied after losing a one-sided first set against Muchova, storming back to win 1-6 6-1 6-3.
The Japanese star was thrilled with her victory, jumping on the spot as soon as Muchova sent the ball wide to give her the match. Afterwards, Osaka explained why the win meant so much to her.
“It means a lot. She’s an incredibly difficult player for me to play. She crushed me in the US Open when I had my best outfit ever,” the 27-year-old laughed.
Osaka made a statement when she arrived in Flushing Meadows last year, wearing a neon green frilly dress with a giant ribbon while her shoes and jacket were also adorned with bows. Inspired by the ‘Lolita goth’ community, she also had the same outfit made in black.
Naomi Osaka was ‘mad’ after Karolina Muchova beat her while she wore her favourite outfit (Image: Getty)
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She barely got to wear the outfit on the court as she lost to Muchova in the second round. Osaka was gutted. But she got the last laugh on Wednesday.
“I was so disappointed. I was so mad. This was my little revenge,” the world No. 51 added.
“It’s not a bad thing but it means a lot because she is one of the toughest opponents out there.”
Osaka needed just under two hours to book her spot in her first Grand Slam third round since giving birth to her daughter Shai in 2023. She continued: “It honestly took everything and I left everything on the court.
“Last year was really tough for me and I thought I could have done better but to be back playing on these courts makes my whole year. I am happy to play another round.”
The four-time Grand Slam champion will now face another mum on the tour, Belinda Bencic. The 2020 Olympic champion recently returned to competition after welcoming her first child last year.
While Osaka enjoys camaraderie with the fellow mums on the circuit, she hasn’t seen much of Bencic since the Swiss star returned this year. “I haven’t really bumped into her. It’s weird,” she said.
“When you’re at a Slam, you don’t really see people when you expect to see them. But I guess I’ll see her on the other side of the court.”