Tennis is not just a sport of skill and glory; it thrives on respect, camaraderie, and the grace to honor opponents, win or lose. Yet, the Canadian Open final told a different tale, as Naomi Osaka skipped the simple but sacred gesture of congratulating champion Victoria Mboko. The moment sparked murmurs across the tennis world, challenging the spirit the game holds dear. Now, as days pass, former US Open champion Andy Roddick steps into the fray, breaking his silence and spilling the truth with his unfiltered thoughts, adding fuel to a debate that refuses to fade quietly into the shadows.

In his recent appearance on the Served podcast, Andy Roddick peeled back the curtain on the incident that gripped tennis conversations all week. “I got some inbound from comments. And Brett Haber wrote to me to inform me that athletes in other sports have to do press after they lose. I was like, ‘Thank you, Brett. That’s fantastic information,’” he began, underscoring that in every sport, both winners and losers face the post-match press.

Roddick then sharpened his point. “And also my intent, and he’s not the only one who is maybe confused by, you know, the cut and paste of a quote. I understand that other athletes have to talk after they lose. My rebuttal was, I’m pretty sure Patrick Mahomes didn’t have to stand on the Super Bowl stage and say something nice about his opponent in the immediate aftermath of the game and during their ceremony.”

The former US Open champion admitted there was perhaps a missing distinction in his earlier remarks. “Maybe I was mistaken. I should have, you know, maybe pointed out the differentiation. Thought it might have been implied. But here we are,” he said, acknowledging that clarity might have helped ease the debate.

Finally, Roddick weighed in with empathy for Osaka’s situation. “I think you hang in there, you know, you kind of do what you can. Here’s my only mistake, I think from the Osaka side, is in that scenario, and I gave grace last week. It’s like I don’t know, like someone’s worst day at work ever, if you put a microphone in front of them, they would say some regrettable [ __ ] or not say or not say enough good stuff like that happens, and apparently people you know are perfect in their worst moments and disagree.”

Almost a week ago in Montreal, Naomi Osaka stood a set away from glory in the final but saw it slip through her grasp, falling to Victoria Mboko 6-2, 4-6, 1-6. It was Mboko’s first tour-level title, a milestone moment. Yet, controversy followed when Osaka, in her runners-up speech, omitted any mention of her teenage opponent. “I don’t really want to take up too much time, so I will just say thank you to everyone,” she said, before quickly thanking her team, event staff, and volunteers. The absence of recognition for Mboko, despite the magnitude of her win, did not go unnoticed.

Perhaps frustration played a role; the crowd had heavily backed Mboko throughout the match. Still, in the eyes of many, the moment demanded grace. Even with her game sharpened under Tomasz Wiktorowski’s guidance, Osaka’s reaction stirred debate. And now, Andy Roddick, never shy to speak his mind, has once again stepped forward to weigh in on the incident.

Andy Roddick weighs in on Naomi Osaka’s speech

On August 7, during the episode of Quick Served, Andy Roddick waded into the swirling debate over Naomi Osaka’s brief runners-up speech in Montreal. “She didn’t really want to expand a lot in the post-match speeches,” he observed. “I see people are saying ‘she should’ve said…’, I don’t know, we’re the only sport that is forced to talk after we lose.”

Roddick pointed out the obvious emotional strain in such moments. “Obviously, we’re not our best selves in that situation, and if people are, great, if they’re not, they’re not. I would rather her be friendly with Vicky Mboko all the time than at Grandstand in front of a microphone. I don’t know if either is true, but Naomi [Osaka] is generally well-liked, polite, everyone likes her, and she doesn’t give a lot sometimes when she’s not ready to give a lot, and that’s fine.”

The former US Open champion went further, questioning the unique pressures tennis places on its athletes. “No other sport do you have to go talk immediately in front of everyone and have the expectations to not only be courteous but to give everyone their flowers in an appropriate way. I don’t know, people are allowed to be p——,” he said. “I used to actually use that example with Serena [Williams] all the time; she would go to press sometimes and be really salty.”

Right after the final, Victoria Mboko had thanked Osaka in her own winner’s speech, admitting she had looked up to her since childhood. That heartfelt moment only deepened the spotlight on Osaka’s omission.

But on August 9, Osaka took to Threads to set the record straight. “Thanks, Montreal, it’s been a really great run. I also want to say sorry and congratulations to Victoria. You played a great match and have an amazing career ahead! I realise I didn’t congratulate you on the court… I was in a daze…” Her words revealed remorse, fairness, and genuine respect for her young opponent.

Now, with Osaka skipping the Cincinnati Open to rest ahead of the US Open, the bigger question emerges: has she rediscovered her hard-court fire? If this summer form holds, and her focus sharpens under the bright lights of New York, she may just reclaim the legacy she once built, and perhaps expand it even further.