Naomi Osaka faced a tough defeat in the second round of Wimbledon, losing to Emma Navarro in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1. Navarro displayed an exceptional performance, winning 84 percent of her first-serve points and dominating the match. She won 4-of-5 break points and avoided facing a break point herself, securing the victory in just 59 minutes. Navarro's impressive run included a streak of five consecutive game wins.

The result was particularly disappointing for Osaka, as her struggles at Wimbledon and on grass courts continued. Despite participating in the prestigious tournament four times between 2017 and 2019, as well as in 2024, Osaka has never advanced beyond the third round. Her track record on grass courts stands at 14-12 in professional singles play, while on hard courts, she boasts an impressive record of 148-72. All four of her Grand Slam titles were achieved on hard courts, with victories at the 2018 and 2020 U.S. Opens, as well as the 2019 and 2021 Australian Opens.

In recent years, Osaka has faced challenges both on and off the court. Taking multiple breaks in 2021 and 2022 to prioritize her mental health, she also became a mother in June 2023 and consequently missed the entirety of that calendar year. Although Osaka has returned to professional play in 2024, she has understandably not yet reached her peak form, currently holding a 16-13 record and only managing to reach the quarterfinals of a tournament once. Notably, her strong performance almost resulted in an upset against world No. 1 Iga Swiatek in the second round of the French Open, where she narrowly lost in a thrilling three-set match.

However, on this particular day, Navarro outshined Osaka, proving to be the stronger player. Osaka struggled to find her rhythm on grass, an ongoing challenge for her. Observers noticed that her big backswing on her forehand made it difficult for her to absorb power and set her feet quickly enough. Additionally, the lower bounce of the grass court made it harder for her to hit a flat forehand with sufficient net clearance, particularly when faced with opponents utilizing slices.

Osaka's difficulties on grass courts highlight the need for her to adapt and improve her performance on different surfaces, such as grass and clay. Despite her tremendous ground strokes, she must enhance her movement and become a more versatile player. Fans and analysts pointed out the example of Serena Williams, who exemplified greatness on grass not only through power but also with her exceptional movement.

With the grass season now behind her, Osaka can look forward to the U.S. Open in August and September, a tournament where she has historically excelled. As she continues to navigate her return to tennis after a challenging period in her personal life, fans and critics eagerly await her future performances and hope to see her regain her winning form on all types of courts.