Naomi Osaka’s quest for a fifth Grand Slam title continued to face challenges after her fourth-round exit at the U.S. Open on Monday. The Japanese tennis star was defeated 6-1, 6-4 by Elena Rybakina, extending her Grand Slam title drought since her last victory at the Australian Open in 2021.

Osaka’s career has undergone significant changes in recent years, including a hiatus from professional tennis to give birth to her daughter, Shai, three years ago. Reflecting on her loss and the evolving priorities in her life, Osaka expressed a different perspective on success compared to earlier in her career.

“I had a kid, you know? There’s a lot that happened in that time,” she said. Despite the long interval since her last major win, Osaka indicated that the experience of motherhood and life beyond the sport had reframed her view of competitive milestones. “If I reflect on my career and the things I’ve been able to do, there’s nothing that I regret or there’s nothing that I’m sad about,” she added. “If I win another Grand Slam, it’s not going to change my life.”

Osaka first emerged as a major force in women’s tennis by winning the U.S. Open in 2018, then repeating the feat in 2020. She also won the Australian Open titles in 2019 and 2021. Since returning to competitive tennis after her maternity break, she has reached several late-stage rounds, including a Wimbledon quarterfinal and a U.S. Open semifinal in 2022.

During Monday’s match, Osaka was coping with an Achilles injury, which she said affected her performance. “Today, if I was to say I’m sad, I was just sad that I couldn’t push off on my foot. I’m sad that I couldn’t do what I had set out to do,” she said. Despite the setback, Osaka emphasized gratitude for her personal life and the opportunity to compete.

“If I think about my life, my daughter is healthy, everyone in my family is great. I had an opportunity to play this slam. I got as far as I could. So it’s only up from here,” she remarked.

Osaka’s comments underscore a shift in her outlook, as she balances professional ambitions with her evolving role as a mother, while continuing to compete at the highest levels of tennis.