Naomi Osaka wins her first Wimbledon tennis match in six years

Osaka will next face American Emma Navarro in the second round of the tournament.

Jul 02, 2024 02:13 AM

Naomi Osaka of Japan reacts after scoring one point over Diane Parry of France during the first round of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London Monday 1 July 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigginsworth) Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP conceal caption

Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

Naomi Osaka won her first Wimbledon match in six years on Monday, beating French athlete Diane Parry.

Osaka had a 6-1 defeat, winning 1-6, 6-4 in the two final sets in the 3rd set.

“It was really enjoyable and very anxious at the same … The game was, I believe, a little between up and down, however I would say that it was an experience I could draw a lot of lessons out of it,” she said at an interview following the match.

Osaka has spoken out about her struggles playing on grass courts and is trying to build an optimistic outlook because she is often an “downer” about herself, she admitted.

In 2021 in 2021, it was 2021 when the Japanese resident took a brief break from tennis following having to withdraw from the French Open for mental health issues and losing to the U.S. Open.

Then she took longer breaks after being pregnant with her daughter Shai who Osaka declared would turn one on Tuesday. Osaka did not want to take part in her part in the Eastbourne International tournament last week due to the fact that she was hosting her daughter’s birthday celebration, she told the media.

“I think that my attitude the last year was a struggle to make it through,” she said. “I was a bit unsure of what was going on when I had my baby however, I guess I was just trying to put my life back into my own.”

She continued, “It feels really, super cool. I’m constantly shocked by what’s happening that happen on the ground, and it’s really satisfying winning a match.”

Osaka will take on American Emma Navarro in the second round of the tournament. Navarro represents America in the U.S. at this summer’s Paris Olympic Games, as will Coco Gauff who won on Monday at Wimbledon.