Naomi Osaka is looking at the bright side after her first-round heartbreak at the Mutua Madrid Open, where she bowed out to Lucia Bronzetti in three sets on Tuesday.
The former world No. 1, currently ranked 55th, was playing her first clay-court match of the season against Bronzetti. After dropping the opening set, Osaka rallied in the second but couldn’t overcome the determined Italian in a 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 defeat.
The loss was a blow for the Japanese player, who is still finding her form after a 15-month break from the sport for maternity leave and mental health. She had logged an extra-long training block on her most challenging surface and came into the European red-clay season feeling “stronger” and “really excited” for her matches.
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Afterward, Osaka took to social media to give fans a raw look into her post-defeat headspace.
