Naomi Osaka’s US Open run ended with a painful loss, but the four-time Grand Slam champion is keeping some humor in the aftermath. After revealing that an Achilles problem had become increasingly difficult to manage during her fourth-round defeat, Osaka gave fans a glimpse of the injury in a much lighter way.
The tennis star shared photos of her wrapped feet on social media and joked that she had accidentally given the internet the “free feet pic” it never knew it needed. The playful update came just days after Osaka battled through the injury against Elena Rybakina.
Osaka gives fans a look at her injury
Osaka reached the fourth round in New York after wins over Anastasia Zakharova, Katerina Siniakova, and Elise Mertens. Her victory over Mertens came with a warning sign, however, as she received treatment for an Achilles problem during the match.
By the time she faced Rybakina, the issue had become more noticeable. Osaka later explained that she had felt significant discomfort during her previous match and that the problem had become worse on the morning of her fourth-round contest.
Rybakina eventually ended Osaka’s tournament with a 6-1, 6-4 victory. The second seed controlled the match from the start, while Osaka struggled to move and find her usual rhythm.
Days later, Osaka shared a photo showing her feet wrapped and supported by a splint. She captioned the image with a joke about being alone with her splint, turning what could have been a worrying injury update into a more playful moment.
Her “free feet pic” joke drew attention
Osaka followed the injury photo with another social media post after someone joked that she had given the internet a free picture of her feet.
Rather than ignoring the comment, Osaka played along and responded with a simple “You’re welcome.”
The exchange gave fans a lighter look at how she was handling the aftermath of her US Open exit. It also fits the personality Osaka has shown throughout the tournament, where her fashion choices and candid social media posts have attracted plenty of attention alongside her tennis.
Her injury, however, is more serious than the joke suggests. Osaka said after the Rybakina match that she had undergone an ultrasound and expected to have an MRI to better understand what was happening with her Achilles. She also discussed how she will manage the problem as she looks ahead to the rest of the season.
Osaka admitted she was compromised against Rybakina
After the loss, Osaka did not try to hide the impact the injury had on her performance.
She acknowledged that she was physically compromised but said she believed she had played as well as she could under the circumstances. She also pointed to the energy inside the stadium as one of the positives she took from the match.
That outlook was notable because the loss itself was one-sided. Rybakina won in just 66 minutes and advanced without dropping a set, while Osaka’s movement and serve were affected by the Achilles problem.
Rather than dwelling on the result, Osaka said she was grateful for the chance to compete and suggested that life would move forward. That perspective has become increasingly visible in her approach since returning to tennis after becoming a mother.
The injury comes after a promising US Open run
Despite the disappointing ending, Osaka had plenty of positives to take from New York.
She opened the tournament with a pair of tiebreak wins over Anastasia Zakharova before beating Siniakova in three sets. Against Mertens, she overcame the Achilles issue to win 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 and reach the fourth round.
The run continued Osaka’s strong season at the Grand Slam level. She reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon and made the fourth round at the French Open before advancing to the last 16 in New York.
Now, the focus shifts from her US Open result to finding out exactly how serious the Achilles problem is. Osaka said she planned to be smart about how she manages the injury, particularly with more tennis still ahead on the calendar.
Fun fact: Osaka became the first Japanese player to win a Grand Slam singles title when she defeated Serena Williams in the 2018 US Open final. That victory remains a landmark in Japanese tennis history.
Osaka still has plenty to build on
The US Open did not end with another deep run for Osaka, but it did provide another reminder that she remains capable of competing with top players.
Her loss to Rybakina was somewhat overshadowed by the injury, making the upcoming medical tests especially important. If the problem proves manageable, Osaka can look back on her New York run as another step forward rather than simply another Grand Slam disappointment.
For now, though, she appears to be taking the situation with a mixture of caution and humor. A wrapped foot, a splint, and a joking response about a “free feet pic” may not have been the injury update fans expected, but it was unmistakably Osaka.
TL;DR
- Naomi Osaka shared a playful injury update after her US Open exit.
- She joked about giving fans a “free feet pic” after showing her wrapped feet.
- Osaka was dealing with an Achilles problem during her fourth-round loss to Elena Rybakina.
- She said she underwent ultrasounds and planned to have an MRI.
- Osaka remains focused on managing the injury and continuing her season.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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