SportsTantrum, Loss At US Open And Naomi Osaka Mulls Her Future In...

Tantrum, Loss At US Open And Naomi Osaka Mulls Her Future In Tennis

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September 04, (THEWILL) – There was uncomfortable disquiet after the early rounds at the US Open when two-time US Open winner and defending champion Naomi Osaka admitted that she was unsure if she will play again. One of the sports’ most promising stars made this revelation after being knocked out of the third round.

In the most uncharacteristic show of dealing with her emotions, the mostly composed and often calm 23-year-old was visibly frustrated during her 5-7 7-6 (2) 6-4 loss to Canadia’s Leylah Fernandez. It was a display that was shocking to witness as it was completely unexpected of Osaka.

In her post-match comments, the Japanese world number three tried to explain: “Basically I feel like I’m kind of at this point where I’m trying to figure out what I want to do. I honestly don’t know when I’m going to play my next tennis match. I think I’m going to take a break from playing for a while.”

It has been a turbulent year for Osaka. As THEWILL chronicled in the course of all she has endured, the pattern has shown that her relationship with the media has not helped her navigate the issues she has had to contend with.

Osaka was forced to withdraw from the French Open at Roland Garros earlier in the year after refusing to attend news conferences. She later disclosed her struggle with depression and anxiety and withdrew altogether from tennis, even missing Wimbledon to spend time with her family and take care of her mental health.

Not for the first time on Friday, Osaka broke down in tears while fielding questions from reporters’ questions in a news conference. A similar situation was reported by THEWILL during a virtual press conference in August where Stuart Duguid, Osaka’s agent, condemned the line of questioning from a local Cincinnati reporter.

Osaka played with comfort in the first set of her match against the 18-year-old and there was no indication of what was to come until the tiebreaker where she seemed to lose her composure and shockingly slam her raquet repeatedly before leaving the court after her loss.

In the third set, the strange reactions of the 23-year-old earned her a warning from Umpire Alison Hughes for on-court behaviour after Osaka hit a ball into the stands. Asked what brought such a shift from her usually calm composure, she could not explain it herself: “I’m really sorry about that. I was telling myself to be calm, but I feel like maybe there was a boiling point.

“Normally I feel like I like challenges. But recently, I feel very anxious when things don’t go my way, and I feel like you can feel that. I’m not really sure why it happens the way it happens now. You could kind of see that. I was kind of like a little kid.

“I feel like for me recently, like, when I win I don’t feel happy. I feel more like a relief. And then when I lose, I feel very sad. I don’t think that’s normal.”

The time off competing might do her composure a world of good but the sooner she makes up her mind to refocus on her sport while improving her mental balance the better for her and tennis, with the status she has so far acquired in the sport.

However, if she decides to quit for her mental health, then it will be for the best but the sport will be losing one of the most promising and inspiring stars of modern tennis.

About the Author

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Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.

Jude Obafemi, THEWILLhttps://thewillnews.com
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.

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