By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, April 27, 2026
Photograph credit score: BNP Paribas Open Fb
Naomi Osaka pushed Aryna Sabalenka to a few units on Madrid’s pink clay—and earned an epiphany within the course of.
Within the aftermath of her 6-7(1), 6-3, 6-2 Mutua Madrid Open loss to Aryna Sabalenka as we speak, Osaka mentioned she attracts positives from the defeat. Six weeks after Sabalenka shredded Osaka 6-2, 6-4 on Indian Wells’ onerous court docket, the previous No. 1 mentioned as we speak’s bodily three-setter confirmed her she will be able to doubtlessly match the reigning Madrid champion’s energy.
In truth, Osaka ripped point-ending drives off each wings down each sidelines at occasions in constructing a one-set lead as we speak.
“I believe simply understanding how shut it was. I really feel like each recreation was tremendous shut,” Osaka informed the media in Madrid. “I believe I understand, like, I might doubtlessly match her in energy.
“I really feel like in Indian Wells I used to be somewhat overwhelmed. Right here I did somewhat bit higher. Clearly she’s the No. 1 participant on the planet, so it was a very cool match for me to know that I’m like type of there.”
4-time Grand Slam champion Osaka mentioned she is going to arrive in Rome and Paris inspired by her clay-court progress.
“Shedding isn’t a optimistic factor for me, however I can take positives from this match,” Osaka mentioned. “Clearly I really feel like I’m in a greater spot than I used to be final 12 months.
“Final 12 months I wasn’t ranked. This 12 months I’m ranked. I can go to Rome as a seed, which is actually cool for me.
Yeah, I imply, it was a very robust match, however I really feel higher than how I performed her in Indian Wells.”
Final spring, Osaka gained the WTA 125 Saint Malo title on pink clay. Although she’s solely contested one Tour-level semifinal on dust, Osaka reached the spherical of 16 in Rome final June earlier than bowing in her Roland Garros opener to Paula Badosa, 6-4 within the third set.
The 28-year-old Osaka shared she shall be lacking one key group member for subsequent month’s French Open. Osaka’s two-and-a-half-year-old daughter Shai, who has been in Madrid along with her well-known mom, gained’t be making the journey to Paris.
“No, she has faculty. I prefer to preserve her in her faculty simply to have routine,” Osaka mentioned of her daughter. “She was simply right here for somewhat bit. She is going to most likely return [home] in a number of days.”
