Naomi Osaka defeated in the third round of the Olympic Games tennis tournament and is absent from the Tokyo Games



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This was not the end that Naomi Osaka or her multitudes of fans across Japan and the world were waiting for. But the Tokyo Olympicshe debut will forever be remembered by the tennis superstar.

Osaka said after light the Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremony last week that it was “without a doubt the greatest athletic achievement and the greatest honor I will ever have in my life”.

So maybe – just maybe – it will allow Osaka to face their unexpected 6-1, 6-4 loss to former Roland Garros finalist Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic in the third round of the Olympic tournament in tennis Tuesday.

Not right away, however.

“I’m disappointed with every loss, but I feel like this one is worse than the others,” Osaka said.

As a four-time Grand Slam champion, highest-paid female athlete in the world and the host nation’s flag bearer for the Games, the huge expectations were hard to manage.

“I really felt like there was a lot of pressure for it,” Osaka said. “I think maybe it’s because I’ve never played in the Olympics before and for the first year (it was) a bit too much.”

Yet, the day before her loss, Osaka tweeted that she was “here for a good time”:

Second Osaka, who was born in Japan and raised in the United States, struggled with her generally reliable groundstrokes while southpaw Vondrousova produced a series of winning shots and other crafty shots that brought out his opponent of her. comfort zone.

Tennis - Women's Singles - Round 3
Naomi Osaka of Japan walks away after losing her third round match against Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic at the Tokyo Olympics on July 27, 2021.

MIKE SEGAR / REUTERS


“It is difficult for her to play in Japan and in the Olympics as well,” said Vondrousova, 42nd. “It’s so much pressure I can’t imagine.”

Osaka won their first two matches in straight sets after a two-month mental health hiatus. But the conditions were different on Tuesday with the roof closed because it was raining outside.

Osaka had spoken earlier this week about how “happy” she was to play again. It happened after she announced in May at Roland Garros that she would not be speaking to reporters at that tournament, saying these interactions create doubts for her.

Then, after her first round victory in Paris, she skipped the mandatory press conference.

Osaka was fined $ 15,000 and – surprisingly – publicly reprimanded by the officials of the Grand Slam tournaments, who said she could be suspended if she continues to avoid the media.

The next day, Osaka withdrew from Roland Garros entirely to take a mental health break, revealing that she had faced depression and anxiety.

Osaka opened up about his mental health issues and his decision to abandon Roland-Garros in an essay by Time magazine, saying “it’s good not to be well”

She also sat at Wimbledon. The Tokyo Games therefore mark his return to competition.

“I’ve taken long breaks already and managed to do well,” said Osaka, who initially made no comment after his loss, then returned and met a small group of reporters. “I’m not saying I did wrong right now, but I know my expectations were much higher.

“I feel like my attitude wasn’t that great because I don’t really know how to deal with that pressure so it’s the best I could have done in this situation.”

Japan reacts

The reaction in Japan started with “Masaka”, which means “No way”.

And people quickly turned to a surge of sympathy.

“Watching you gave me courage. You don’t need to win a medal. Watching you play is enough for all of your fans,” said Yuji Taida, a novelist.

Japanese media relayed urgent information about his loss, with “masaka” in the headlines.

“Her mother’s homeland. Her dream of standing on top, with the sun rising over her heart, was not to be,” Sports Hochi, a Japanese sports daily, reported.

The stock of Japanese tennis racket maker Yonex, one of its main sponsors, plunged on Tuesday as it lost, but regained much of the ground later.

For many Japanese, Osaka, born in Japan, whose father is Haitian, grew up to embody a beacon of hope for diversity in a nation long linked to discrimination and intolerance for differences.

Some Japanese said it broke their hearts to imagine how much Osaka had wanted to win gold for his country.

“She has her principles on her pride for Japan and playing for Japan, while also being proud of her diverse roots of having a Haitian father and living in the United States,” attorney Atusko said. Nishiyama, who was already starting to worry about the possibility of Osaka. attacked for his loss.

Nishiyama said she was impressed with Osaka’s statements on Black lives matter, like last year when she wore masks bearing the names of blacks who had been killed.

“Compared to his courage, it’s so sad that some people are still at a very low level,” Nishiyama said.

As reports speculated that it hurt him not to play for two months and referred to how Osaka spoke about his bouts of depression and then stepped away from Wimbledon, Japan’s response was overwhelmingly passionate love.



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