Naomi Osaka’s Injury at the 2025 French Open
Naomi Osaka recently opened up about a painful injury she sustained during her first match at the 2025 French Open, leading to her exit from the tournament. After facing off against Spain’s Paula Badosa and losing in a hard-fought match that concluded with scores of 6-7, 6-1, 6-4, Osaka took to Instagram to share a striking image of the blisters that had formed on her knuckles, revealing,
“I genuinely cannot bend these fingers all the way lol,”
as reported by the New York Post.
Struggles with Anxiety and Performance Pressure
The 27-year-old tennis sensation expressed her frustration with her physical condition, admitting in a subsequent post that she was overwhelmed with anxiety at the thought of taking a break from her training routine.
“Me: ‘I’m sick of this I’m gonna take a break for a while,'”
she joked in her Instagram Stories, quickly adding,
“Me a day after my match because I have anxiety if I don’t work out.”
During the press conference following her first-round defeat on May 26, Osaka became emotional while discussing her struggles.
“I hate disappointing people,”
she said, reflecting on how she felt about not just her performance, but also the expectations placed upon her. She noted the pressure of transitioning from her previous coach, working with legendary player Serena Williams, to her current challenges.
Previous Injury and Impact on Performance
Osaka also revealed that the blister issue had begun at the Italian Open earlier in May, attributing the painful spots on her hands to the friction caused by clay courts, which had not been a problem on other surfaces. In fact, she had even taken a medical timeout during her match against Badosa due to the discomfort in her hands.
Historical Context and Emotional Toll
In another incident from last year, Osaka also had to withdraw from the second round of the China Open due to a back injury. During that event, her opponent, Coco Gauff, displayed exceptional sportsmanship by assisting Osaka with her bags, which earned both players a warm reception from the audience. This previous injury experience and her current struggles highlight the physical and emotional toll that professional tennis can impose on athletes like Osaka.
