Osaka 'grateful' for the journey

Naomi Osaka's return to the US Open ended in the second round on Thursday, but the two-time champion said she felt "grateful" as she departed in the wake of a straight-sets loss to Karolina Muchova.

"It was really fun," Osaka (above) said after falling 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) to the 52nd-ranked Czech under the lights on Arthur Ashe Stadium. "I felt very grateful that there were so many people cheering. I missed it a lot." Japan's Osaka won the title in 2018 and 2020 but missed last year's edition after the birth of her daughter Shai.

She has been unable to build momentum in her comeback, and her first round win over Jelena Ostapenko was her first in four years over a top-10 player.

"I think this year for me has been a learning year," she said. "I put a lot of energy and effort into all the tournaments that I played.