'I won my second Slam after I won my first': Naomi Osaka's blunt retort about Emma Raducanu comparison prior to defeat

Albeit having followed her journey, Osaka said that it was cool that their paths have finally crossed. It was a first meeting between the pair.

“I have seen her, I guess when she first did well at Wimbledon before she won the US Open, like moments like that, and I knew she was a good player. So I guess for our paths to finally cross is really cool,” the former No. 1 said.

It perhaps could be said that Raducanu had the last laugh in the end. But also Osaka has never been one to particularly hold back from questioning that perhaps is searching for a specific soundbite in a press conference and dismissing that.

Raducanu moves on albeit with some question marks

She now moves on to Canada while Raducanu continues in Washington. The Brit had previously said earlier this week about struggling to develop from the rigours of clay to grass to hard courts. In reality she has barely played certain surfaces as she hasn't strung together a full season really since the US Open.

So seeing her back in the States injury free as such apart from the back issue that lingers around her over recent months is very much one of intrigue. She has also enlisted the help of Mark Petchey albeit the call has been there from others that she needs to find perhaps a full-time solution.

He has worked wonders but also his work with Tennis Channel and ESPN means that he would rather take the stable income than throw it away for a coaching job. Perhaps understandable but means that Raducanu gets peaks and troughs.

From grass where Petchey barely worked a broadcast schedule so he could help her to now where of course Tennis Channel showing all these events means that he is needed. So while she is still winning there are still factors that perhaps need addressing.

For Osaka, it is continuing to find what she had before which is proving difficult to find. Unlike Raducanu who returned at the similar time albeit through injury over becoming a mother, she hasn't found that switch yet to get back to her best which has frustrated her and a loss like this will do so again.

Match Statistics Raducanu vs. Osaka