Naomi Osaka got as real as it gets following her quarter-final loss against Karolina Muchova at Wimbledon.

Apart from her fashionable outfits displayed throughout the course of the tournament, Osaka was in the spotlight as her plantar fasciitis was acting up, and she gave her two cents on why and if that actually is her issue.

“It’s not my ankle. I’m just getting old." Osaka said. "I have plantar fasciitis in my feet. That’s what we assume it is. It’s never my ankles. I actually have really flexible ankles. Thanks for asking.”

Muchova defeated Osaka 7-6(4), 6-4, ending a fine performance by the World No. 14 and advancing to the semi-finals to face Coco Gauff.

Before falling to Muchova, the former World No. 1 overcame the current World No. 1 and heavy favorite, Aryna Sabalenka, in the Round of 16 with some of the best tennis she has played after coming back from maternity leave.

However, she was unable to find rhythm against the Czech, against whom she had to retire in Bad Homburg, Germany, following a foot injury.

“I could feel it coming because I’ve played way more matches than I usually do before a Slam," she added.

“I just wanted to try that to see the rhythm, you know? Obviously, it worked out well. But I think I probably won’t do that again. But yeah, I would say it was like an accumulation of playing two weeks straight without a day off.”

Still, this was Osaka's best-ever result at the All England Club, where she took the World No. 9 to the limit.

Karolina Muchova Reveals She Was Not Calm Against Osaka

During the traditional on-court interview after the victory against the veteran, the interviewer told Muchova that she looked calm throughout the match. However, the Czech was quick to deny such claims.

“Oh my God, I was nervous," Muchova responded. "She’s an unbelievable athlete. So many times we’ve played... A week ago in a tournament against each other. We know each other pretty well at this point. I know you can’t lose that focus."

"You have to still keep going and play every point. If you give her a little chance, she takes it and it goes the other way. All the best to her. She’s a great tennis player. Sorry, I don’t know what I’m saying... I’m glad I won today." Muchova added.

With her first Wimbledon semi-final, Muchova is now a Grand Slam semifinalist at all four majors. Standing between her and the final is seventh seed Coco Gauff.

Muchova has won just one of her seven previous meetings against Gauff, but it is worth noting that her lone victory over the American came in their most recent clash in Stuttgart three months ago.

A win over the American would allow Muchova to reach her first Grand Slam final since the French Open in 2023, and it will be interesting to see how this one pans out on Thursday.

So, do you think Karolina Muchova will continue this momentum as we reach the final stretch of the tournament? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Joy Bassy

Edited by

Joy Bassy