Tennis fans around the world were left stunned by Naomi Osaka\u2019s runner-up speech after her loss to Victoria Mboko in the Canadian Open final in Montreal.<\/p>\n
The former World No. 1 delivered what many called a shockingly brief and cold speech that completely ignored her opponent\u2019s historic victory. Osaka\u2019s failure to acknowledge Mboko\u2019s achievement sparked fierce debate about her lack of sportsmanship.<\/p>\n
Naomi Osaka\u2019s Shocking Speech at Canadian Open Divides Tennis Fans<\/p>\n
Osaka\u2019s post-match speech after losing 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 to Mboko in the Montreal final was notably brief and avoided any mention of her opponent\u2019s victory.<\/p>\n
Speaking to the crowd, Osaka said<\/a>: \u201cI don\u2019t really wanna take up too much time. I\u2019ll just say thank you to everyone. Thank you to my team, the ball kids, organizers, & volunteers. I hope you guys had a good night.\u201d<\/p>\n Naomi Osaka after losing to Victoria Mboko in Montreal final<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t really wanna take up too much time. I\u2019ll just say thank you to everyone. Thank you to my team, the ball kids, organizers, & volunteers. I hope you guys had a good night.\u201d<\/p>\n pic.twitter.com\/2FG17imqmK<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 8, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n The speech lasted less than 30 seconds and made no reference to her teenage opponent\u2019s first WTA 1000 title<\/a> achievement. This stood in striking contrast to Mboko\u2019s gracious winner\u2019s speech, where she specifically thanked Osaka, saying, \u201cI wanna thank Naomi for an incredible match. I\u2019ve always looked up to her.\u201d<\/p>\n The match itself proved frustrating for Osaka, who started strongly by winning the first set 6-2. However, momentum shifted dramatically in the second set as the Canadian crowd rallied behind their home favorite. Osaka\u2019s play became increasingly erratic, with unforced errors mounting as she struggled to handle the hostile atmosphere.<\/p>\n She received a code violation for hitting a ball into the stands in frustration after a double fault on break point. The third set saw a complete collapse from Osaka, who appeared to be \u201cdissociating during the match,\u201d according to observers. Her negative body language and series of mistakes handed further momentum to Mboko, who capitalized to secure a stunning 6-1 final set victory.<\/p>\n The loss was particularly painful for Osaka, who was seeking her first tour-level title since the 2021 Australian Open. At 27 years old and having returned from maternity leave, this represented a golden opportunity to claim her eighth career title. Instead, she became part of Mboko\u2019s fairytale story as the 18-year-old Canadian became just the third player to win the tournament on home soil in the Open Era.<\/p>\n Fans React to Osaka\u2019s On-Court Speech<\/p>\n Tennis fans on social media were quick to point out that Osaka\u2019s behavior was \u201cextremely unprofessional\u201d and deserving of a fine for poor sportsmanship.<\/p>\n \u201cNo congratulations to Mboko! Poor sportsmanship Naomi Osaka.\u201d<\/p>\n No congratulations to Mboko! Poor sportsmanship Naomi Osaka<\/p>\n \u2014 ELLE66 (@ROSIERED81) August 8, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n One fan wrote: \u201cYou gotta feel for her but this is not how things are done, pretty much tennis protocol congratulating your opponent.\u201d<\/p>\n You gotta feel for her but this is not how things are done, pretty much tennis protocol congratulating your opponent.<\/p>\n \u2014 Fa \ud83e\udea9 (@strudeldulce) August 8, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Another fan pointed out that Osaka didn\u2019t say anything<\/a> about Mboko in her speech.<\/p>\n A fan took notice of the unusual speech by Osaka<\/a>: \u201cThat was a very interesting & almost angry short speech from Naomi Osaka\u2026Started with\u2026 \u201cThanks I guess\u201d\u2026. ended with \u201cI hope you guys had a good night.\u201d<\/p>\n Although a fan acknowledged Osaka\u2019s bitter feeling, they wrote: \u201cYou know better than that.\u201d<\/p>\n I know you\u2019re bitterly disappointed Naomi, but you know better than that, c\u2019mon! \ud83d\ude14<\/p>\n \u2014 Jess Reynolds \ud83e\udea9\u2728\ud83e\udef6\ud83c\udffc (@_jess_reynolds_) August 8, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cShe didn\u2019t want to give a speech, looks devastated. She should have congratulated her opponent that doesn\u2019t mean she\u2019s a bad person.\u201d<\/p>\n She didn\u2019t want to give a speech, looks devastated. She should have congratulated her opponent that doesn\u2019t mean she\u2019s a bad person<\/p>\n \u2014 Jt05 (@josuethe7) August 8, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n