Osaka Berates Herself but Still Beats Mertens at US Open: A Win of Resilience or Fragility?

New York – As Naomi Osaka stepped into the post-match press conference, she was still filled with guilt. The Japanese player had just defeated Elise Mertens 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 to advance to the fourth round of the US Open, but the victory did not bring her any satisfaction. She called herself 'negative', admitted to throwing her racket, and more importantly, she felt sorry for the younger spectators watching her. Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, was struggling with herself on the Arthur Ashe court. She kept talking to herself, but it was self-criticism. She called herself 'a fool', and as the match entered the third set, with the score at 4-6, she called a medical timeout for a leg issue. Was that a psychological tactic to cut the momentum, or a real problem? Looking at the match data, Osaka won 7-5 in the final set, but her performance was inconsistent. She had moments of explosive power, but also moments of self-destructive errors. She managed to break Mertens' serve twice in the deciding set, but also lost her own serve in the second set. This reveals a dilemma: Osaka can still win when she is not at her best mentally, but is that sustainable? Looking ahead, in the fourth round, Osaka will face world number two Elena Rybakina, a player with a solid defensive game and sharp attacking skills. This will be a true test. Many will say a win is a win, and Osaka has shown character by overcoming difficulties. But I see a deeper problem. Osaka's negativity is not new. She has spoken about losing joy in the game. Her admission that she cried and felt sorry for 'the kids watching' shows that she is under pressure not only from her own expectations but also from her role model status. Is this remorse enough to change her behavior? Can she find peace of mind to perform at her best? The match against Rybakina will be not just a battle of technique and fitness, but also a battle of mind. Can Osaka overcome herself?