At a Glance
- Naomi Osaka, champion, lost 6-4, 6-2 to Maria Sakkari at the United Cup while battling a cold she likely caught from her daughter.
- She was coughing during the match and is not operating at full strength.
- Osaka hopes to recover before the Australian Open, which starts Jan. 18.
- Why it matters: Fans and the tennis community watch her health as she prepares for the season’s first Grand Slam.
Naomi Osaka, who advanced to the U.S. Open semifinals last year, is dealing with a lingering cold after losing her opening United Cup match to Greece’s Maria Sakkari. The four-time Grand Slam champion said she was coughing during the 6-4, 6-2 defeat and is not operating at full strength.
Match Highlights
Osaka’s first match for Japan ended in a 6-4, 6-2 loss to Sakkari, with Osaka coughing at times and showing reduced energy. She attributed her illness to the Christmas holiday period and a likely infection from her daughter Shai.
- 6-4, 6-2 loss to Maria Sakkari
- Osaka coughing during match
- Likely caught illness from daughter Shai
In the match for Greece, Stefanos Tsitsipas wrapped up victory with a 6-3, 6-4 win against Shintaro Mochizuki.
Health Update
Osaka said she is at the tail end of her illness but still not at 100%. She hopes the cough and runny nose will disappear before the Australian Open.
Naomi Osaka said:
> “I have been dealing with some health stuff, so I’m kind of just happy to be out here right now.”
Naomi Osaka added:
> “It’s not serious but I’m not operating at the percent that I want to be operating at, which kind of sucks, because I had a really good offseason so I thought I was going to do really well here.”
Naomi Osaka continued:
> “I’m at the tail end of that but still not amazing. I’m just trying to get better every day. I had a cough, a runny nose, like all that nasty stuff, so hopefully it goes away before the Australian Open.”
| Player | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Naomi Osaka | 6-4, 6-2 | Loss |
| Stefanos Tsitsipas | 6-3, 6-4 | Win |
Key Takeaways
- Osaka is battling a cold after losing 6-4, 6-2 to Maria Sakkari.
- She is not at full strength but hopes to recover before the Australian Open.
- Stefanos Tsitsipas secured a 6-3, 6-4 win for Greece.
Osaka’s health status remains a key storyline as the United Cup continues and the Australian Open approaches.
