Osaka on why she struggled against Golubic: “It was a really terrible way of thinking”
The Japanese admitted she was juggling thoughts about her possible elimination with her desire for titles as she maintained her clay-court momentum
Viktoria Golubic and Naomi Osaka, Rome 2025 | © Tennis Majors / Tristan Lapierre
Naomi Osaka was one game away from leaving Rome as soon as the second round, Thursday, before defeating lucky loser Viktoria Golubic. After her 2-6, 7-5, 6-1 win, which extended her clay-court winnig streak to seven, she shared her feelings, honestly, with a small group of reporters on the balance between accepting negative thoughts about being back home early with her deep desire to win anything she can this season.
I'm sure you were preparing for a very different opponent than the one you had. Paula (Badosa) and Viktorija (Golubic) are two very different opponents. Just curious how you adjusted to that in real time.
Not that well. (Smile) As I was warming up they told me I would play Paula. Thirty minutes, 25 minutes before the match. And then it was just, like, kinda hectic from there. Obviously, the first set didn’t go well, and neither did the second set. A lot of real time adjustments needed to be made.
Knowing Paulo pulled out in Madrid and where she is, did that cross your mind that she might not play today and that you might have to play someone else?
I thought she might pull out, but I was also, like : since she pulled out of Madrid, she probably would play Rome because it’s another lead up tournament on clay. So I was 90 percent expecting to play her, and then I didn’t know lucky losers could replace seeds. I was like: “If she pulls out, then maybe I’d just get a walkover or something.” So I learned a lot of rules about tournaments today.
Psychologically, what exactly happened at 5-4 down in the second set ? What were you thinking? And what got you to take off like that?
I just got to the point where I knew this was the last game. And so I just wanted her to prove to me why she should win. And I just thought to myself: “OK. I’m pretty sure I’m losing because I’m making all the errors. She’s not necessarily hitting winners on me. So I’m just gonna make her, like, play the absolute best game of her life to win this match.
Did your mind drift while you were playing, like you said on Wednesday, that you could go and see your daughter? "It’s a bad day, that’s all." Can you think like that during a match?
Very honestly, yeah. I was like, I wonder if I can get on a flight, like, at midnight or something, and then beat the time zone (jet lag), and then come back, like, with a week for French Open, which is, like, a really terrible way of thinking. And I know if Patrick reads this, he’s gonna be pissed, but, like, yeah. I think for me, obviously, I’m really glad that I was able to, I guess, switch my train of thought, before that happened.
I always call my daughter immediately, and she always hangs up on me.
Do you go to the point where you accept: "well we don't control our thoughts and, like, that's Ok? Patrick might get mad or anything like this. It’s human?
I jokingly tell people that I have ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) because I really can’t focus for long periods of times. And I do realise that’s human. I think if I look at the very selected group of people that can focus for entire matches, it’s, like, very slim. And I think that’s the fun thing about tennis is, like, there’s an opportunity at any moment.
It was your seventh match in 10 days, which doesn't happen often, for any player. How do you gauge your hunger for tennis at this stage?
I just want to win. I want to win tournaments that I’ve never won before. I want to do well on clay. I I want to set myself up for a really good end of the year, which is my favourite part of the year. So I’d love to be seeded by then (she’s currently world No 48). And I really love Rome. I do want to try to be here as long as possible.
What does the next day look like? You have one day and a half without any match. How do you think you will spend the time?
I always call my daughter immediately, and she always hangs up on me. So it’s a little sad, but, yeah, I call my daughter, get some food, probably walk around, and write. I like writing.
