Naomi Osaka, plagued with mental anxiety issues, was knocked out in the second round of the WTA 1000 from Indian Wells, swept 6-0, 6-4 by Russian Veronika Kudermetova, after briefly crying in the first set when a no one in the audience insulted her.
“Naomi you suck!“. Apostrophized in the 3rd game of the first set, the Japanese could not hide her distress by going to sit on her chair for the change of sides. Tears that she could not suppress flowed, after she complained about this behavior to the officials. Without consequence for the person who spoke these words, when it sometimes happens in the NBA that fans are excluded from the rooms because of their verbal provocations or their aggressive behavior.
Osaka kept her eyes foggy for the rest of the game. She struggled more to continue playing than to hope for a very hypothetical victory, given her obvious discomfort on center court. Especially since Kudermetova was able to remain imperturbable despite the circumstances, even when her opponent, carried by a pride that we have rarely seen in such difficulties, seemed to return to the match. Osaka finally lost her serve in the 7th game of the second set and the Russian did not miss the opportunity to put an end to it.
Read alsoIndian Wells: Monfils and Bonzi restore color to the Blues
The latter seemed very embarrassed when speaking a few words at the microphone, welcoming the combativeness of the Japanese. And completely unexpectedly, Osaka agreed to play the word game for the ending. A terribly trying exercise that brought new tears to her cheeks, overwhelmed with emotion.
Read alsoIndian Wells: Nadal borders on disappointment, Medvedev in all serenity
“To be honest, I feel like I’ve been heckled before, it didn’t really bother me. But, I watched a video of Venus and Serena (Williams) getting heckled here. If you’ve never watched it, you should watch itshe said painfully between sobs. In 2001, when Serena won the final against Kim Clijsters, her sister Venus and their father Richard were insulted when they took their places in the stands and during the match. For 14 years the two champions refused to return to play in this tournament. “I don’t know why, but it popped into my head and it stuck… I’m trying not to cry. I just have to say thank you and congratulations“, she concluded, winking at Kudermetova.
In September, after her premature elimination in the third round of the US Open, of which she was defending champion, against the young Canadian Leylah Fernandez, Osaka burst into tears at a press conference. Previously, she had withdrawn during the tournament at Roland-Garros, after refusing to answer questions from the media, revealing to have anxiety problems, marked by “several depressive episodes”.
Read alsoOlympics: Naomi Osaka, the stricken symbol
She had skipped Wimbledon, before returning home to the Tokyo Games, where she had lit the Olympic cauldron and where expectations were huge. But she had failed to glean a gold medal, being eliminated in the round of 16. After her three-month break, in the wake of the US Open, Osaka had assured feeling “as good as possible” at the start of the Australian Open, where she was also defending her title but where she did not was able to go past the 3rd round. Back down to 78th place in the world, still very fragile psychologically, the question arises again of what will be his future on the courts.
SEE ALSO – The brilliant goal from a direct corner by Fekir with Betis against Sevilla on January 16 (2-1)