At the very beginning of the year, for her return to competition in Australia after a terribly difficult year 2021 on a psychological level, the young woman of 24, plagued by recurring anxiety problems, said “just want to feel pleasure” on the court. Saturday, in the Californian desert where she had until now almost only good memories – in particular her first title in 2018 – she was far from being granted. And the defeat, finally conceded 6-0, 6-4 against the Russian Veronika Kudermetova, is not the primary reason.
Naomi Osaka
Credit: Getty Images
These are these words, “Naomi you suck!”, came from the public during the 3rd game of the first round, which made him flinch. The Japanese could not hide her distress by going to sit on her chair for the change of side. She couldn’t suppress a few tears after complaining about the behavior to 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.
WTA Indian Wells
Raducanu blasts Garcia, Cornet falls again
YESTERDAY AT 11:09 PM
Remembering the Williams sisters
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, driven by a pride that we have rarely seen in such difficulties, seemed to come back into the game. 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.
The latter seemed very embarrassed at the microphone on the court. “I didn’t hear what the lady (the spectator, editor’s note) said because I was focused on my game”Kudermetova explained after the match. “But then I saw that Naomi was starting to cry. I didn’t understand what had happened.” Completely unexpectedly, Osaka agreed to speak on the court after his defeat. A terribly trying exercise that brought new tears to her cheeks.
Naomi Osaka, Indian Wells
Credit: Getty Images
“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 don’t ‘ve ever watched, you should watch it”, she said painfully between two sobs. In 2001, during the final won by Serena Williams against Kim Clijsters, her sister Venus and their father Richard were insulted in the stands. For 14 years the two champions refused to return to play in this tournament.
“I try not to cry”
“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”. 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 said she felt “as good as possible” at the start of the Australian Open, where she was also defending her title there 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.
Naomi Osaka, Indian Wells
Credit: Getty Images
WTA Indian Wells
Ruud facing the challenge of confirmation: “I’m hungry and I want more”
YESTERDAY AT 11:04 PM
WTA Indian Wells
Swiatek is committed to Ukraine: “I am not an expert, but we can help people”
YESTERDAY AT 6:40 PM