Naomi Osaka says she is likely to change her pre-Grand Slam schedule after admitting fatigue played a significant role in her Wimbledon quarter-final defeat
to KarolÍna Muchová.
The four-time Grand Slam champion enjoyed her best-ever run at the All England Club before falling 7-6(4), 6-4 to the Czech 10th seed. However, Osaka believes an unusually busy build-up to Wimbledon left her without the energy needed to sustain another deep run.
Naomi Osaka admits she 'didn't have any energy' against KarolÍna Muchová
Osaka entered the quarter-finals on the back of one of the biggest wins of her comeback, having knocked out world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the fourth round.
But the former world No. 1 was unable to reproduce that level against Muchová despite remaining competitive throughout the match.
"I feel like I didn't play well at all and I didn't have any energy," Osaka told reporters after the defeat.
"It's hard for me to immediately think of something positive. I played so well in my last match, then today I just feel like I didn't play well at all and I didn't have any energy. The score was pretty good for what it was. "
Osaka twice surrendered a break advantage in the opening set before losing the tie-break and was broken late in the second set as Muchová booked her place in the Wimbledon semi-finals.
Why Naomi Osaka plans to change her Grand Slam preparation
The Japanese star pointed to her schedule before Wimbledon as the biggest reason behind her lack of energy.
Unlike previous Grand Slam campaigns, Osaka played a full week at the Bad Homburg Open, winning four matches before retiring injured in the final against Muchová.
She then won another four matches at Wimbledon, meaning she played eight matches across two consecutive weeks before her quarter-final defeat.
"I've played way more matches than I usually do before a Slam," Osaka explained.
"I just wanted to try that to see the rhythm. Obviously it worked out well. But I think I probably won't do that again. "
She added that the accumulated workload eventually caught up with her.
"I would say it was like an accumulation of playing two weeks straight without a day off. "
The comments suggest Osaka could skip WTA events immediately before future Grand Slams, instead opting for a lighter schedule to preserve her energy for the major tournaments.
Naomi Osaka also reveals foot injury concerns
Osaka also disclosed that she has been managing plantar fasciitis, which she believes was aggravated by the demands of playing on grass.
The issue first surfaced during the off-season and forced her to retire from the Bad Homburg final before Wimbledon.
"I have plantar fasciitis on my feet. Well, that's what we assume it is," Osaka said.
"I think it reactivated on grass court because I'm pushing off a lot more to go forward. I don't think it will bother me on hard court. "
The 28-year-old dismissed concerns about an ankle injury, joking that she was "just getting old" before explaining the condition affecting her feet.
Why the defeat is still an encouraging sign for Naomi Osaka
Despite the disappointment, Osaka's Wimbledon campaign marked another significant step in her return following maternity leave.
She reached the quarter-finals at the All England Club for the first time in her career and produced one of the standout performances of the tournament by defeating top seed Aryna Sabalenka in the fourth round.
Her run also reinforced her belief that she remains capable of winning another major title.
"I feel like in my head I think there's still an opportunity to win a Slam," Osaka said.
With the North American hard-court swing approaching, Osaka's decision to adjust her schedule could be aimed at peaking for the US Open-a tournament she has already won twice and where she reached the semi-finals last year.
