US Open 2024: Naomi Osaka loses heartbreaker to Karolina Muchova in second round after litany of missed opportunities

Naomi Osaka’s return to Arthur Ashe could have had a huge impact.

Instead, her move did not go according to plan as she capitalised on the key moments of the match and lost 6-3, 7-6(5) to Karolina Muchova.

Osaka looked confident in her opening match against Yelena Ostapenko, but her opponent threw her off guard in this match. Ultimately, it was Muchova who handled the nerves of a US Open night session better.

There were so many sliding doors moments that Osaka would like to see again, like the forehand she missed far at the net that decided the match, or the double fault just before that when she was leading 4-2 in the tiebreak.

The 26-year-old also missed a chance to earn an early break to take her up 2-1 when she fired a forehand into the net, and more memorably squandered a triple-set-point opportunity in the second when she held serve. One player held her nerve much better, and it wasn’t the one most fans were paying to see.

There were some moments of Osaka’s qualities on display in this match, but ultimately the level could not be kept high enough.

The first breakthrough came for Muchova in the seventh game, when she secured the first break of the game to take a 4-3 lead.

Muchova may have been an anonymous competitor to some fans, but the Czech player gave them some moments to savour too, with a subtle drop shot winner that left fans in awe in that match.

But her game also had its sharpness: she won 5/5 net points in the first set and matched Osaka’s strength in long rallies, while the two-time US Open winner struggled to get her first serve in.

She broke up again (5-3) and ended the set after holding her serve, hitting two forehand winners past Osaka to take control of the match.

It looked like Osaka’s fortunes would turn when she trailed 1-0 in the second half, but she recovered from a double break to take the game at deuce.

The New York fans, who have seen her win this tournament twice already, felt she needed a boost and supported her as she won this match she absolutely had to win.

It remained exciting until she finally managed to beat the stubborn Muchova and took a 5-4 lead.

But Osaka immediately gave her a chance in the next game – with a 40-0 lead, as she collapsed at the most important moment of the match so far.

Then it was Muchova who kept her composure in a final tiebreak.