Naomi Osaka Vows to Keep Fighting After Shock Tokyo Open Exit

Posted : 29 October 2026

Former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka has vowed to continue pursuing Grand Slam success despite ending her 2026 season with a disappointing second-round defeat at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo. The four-time major champion was beaten 6-3, 7-5 by Slovakia’s 18-year-old Mia Pohankova on Thursday in front of her home supporters.

Osaka, currently ranked 18th in the world, struggled to contain the teenager, who is ranked 144th. The defeat brought her campaign in Tokyo to an early conclusion and left her without a tournament title this year.

Despite the setback, the Japanese star remained positive about her progress and insisted she was determined to keep working towards another Grand Slam triumph. Osaka said competing for major titles remained one of her principal ambitions, although she acknowledged that she had yet to reach that level since returning to the sport.

The 29-year-old also expressed satisfaction with her overall game, explaining that she felt comfortable with her current progress. Osaka returned to professional tennis after taking a 15-month break following the birth of her daughter, Shai, in 2023.

Her appearance in Tokyo was particularly significant because it marked her first participation in the Pan Pacific Open in four years. Osaka has enjoyed a strong connection with the tournament, having won the title in 2019, and she was hoping to make another deep run before the end of the season.

However, Pohankova had other plans. The Slovakian recovered from an early 2-0 deficit in the opening set before winning six of the next seven games to take it 6-3. She maintained her composure in the second set, eventually breaking Osaka in the final game to complete the victory in one hour and 35 minutes.

Pohankova, who won the Wimbledon junior singles title in 2025, celebrated the biggest victory of her career and advanced to the quarter-finals in her first main-draw appearance at a WTA 500 tournament. She will next face American Alycia Parks as she attempts to reach the semi-finals.

Away from the court, Osaka also attracted attention with her distinctive fashion choice. She arrived wearing a red kimono-inspired gown featuring a long, frilled train, having previously worn a blue outfit decorated with crane patterns during her opening match.

The former world No. 1 explained that her clothing choices offered a creative outlet and allowed her to express herself in a sport she believes is generally more restrained in its presentation. She had prepared additional outfits for the tournament but was unable to showcase them following her elimination.

Osaka's defeat closes a season in which she has continued working towards a return to the highest level of women's tennis. Although another Grand Slam challenge remains out of reach for now, she has made clear that she intends to keep pursuing that ambition.

Naomi Osaka Vows to Keep Fighting After Shock Tokyo Open Exit

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