Naomi Osaka has stated where she will play next after a disappointing Canadian Open campaign.
The 27-year-old was thrilled to be back on courts after a gruelling clay and grass court season in Europe, but she has not started the North American swing as she would have hoped.
After an encouraging opening win in Toronto, Osaka was dumped out of the tournament by Belgium’s Elise Mertens.
With her stay in Canada already over, the Japanese player is now shifting focus to her next event as she looks to build momentum ahead of the US Open.
Naomi Osaka’s next event is the Cincinnati Open but she almost did not make it there
After an early exit from the Canadian Open, Naomi Osaka confirmed she will next play at the Cincinnati Masters. “I’m playing Cinci and I guess there’s then no other tournament,” she told reporters.
Her best result at the tournament came back in 2020 when she reached the final. That year it was played at the US Open tennis complex due to the coronavirus pandemic.
However, the Japanese player pulled out before the final against Victoria Azarenka, before beating the Belarusian in the US Open final at Flushing Meadows the following month.
Osaka’s appearance at the tournament was momentarily thrown into jeopardy as she tweeted that United Airlines had lost her luggage. “@united lost my bags and if I don’t get them tonight or tomorrow I literally can’t play Cincinnati,” she wrote alongside three laughing emojis.
But the former World number one’s plans to compete in Ohio are no longer at risk after the airline responded to the tweet to confirm her bags had been found.
Osaka suffered straight sets defeat to Elise Mertens at the Canadian Open
After winning her first match at the Canadian Open since 2019, Osaka played Mertens for the third time in 2024.
The pair split the first two meetings this season and it was Osaka who did not have the answers on Friday as Mertens claimed a 6-4, 6-3 win.
She made multiple errors from the baseline and was unable to play her natural game against the World number 35.
“I feel like I could have put a bit more on the court, a bit more from the baseline shots. I got a bit caught up in the idea of being consistent and staying in the exchanges, I don’t know,” Osaka explained.
“It’s always difficult to play against her; you don’t necessarily hit winners straight away, but you have to open up the court.
“Maybe I got into a dynamic of not hitting winners and, yes, perhaps playing a bit more of her game. But well, I’m not very upset about it either.”
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
