Advertisment

Tearful Naomi Osaka questions future after US open loss

The big story of the day was last year's champion, Naomi Osaka, losing Leylah Fernandez in three sets, as Osaka said she will take a break now

author-image
Arijit Barua
New Update

Naomi Osaka's defense of her US Open championship is over. And her immediate future on the women's professional tennis tour in doubt. That is after a shocking third-round defeat to the unseeded Leylah Annie Fernandez. However, Fernandez is a Canadian teenager ranked 74th in the world.

The third-seeded Osaka, a four-time major champion and the best hard-court player in the world by some distance. Although, she lost her composure while serving for the match. She came apart during the ensuing tiebreaker and couldn't right the ship in the third during a 5-7, 6-7 (2), 6-4 loss in 2hr 4min on Friday night.

 A disappointed Naomi Osaka after the match<br />
 | Naomi Osaka | SportzPoint.com

A disappointed Naomi Osaka after the match

Image : ubitennis.net

Also Read : Crowds back at US Open 2021, Covid regulations eased

What Naomi Osaka said after the match on Friday :

"I feel like for me recently, like, when I win I don't feel happy," Osaka said afterward in an emotional session with the media. "I feel more like a relief. And then when I lose, I feel very sad. I don't think that's normal. I didn't really want to cry, but basically I feel like … " Basically I feel like I'm kind of at this point where I'm trying to figure out what I want to do, and I honestly don't know when I'm going to play my next tennis match," Osaka continued. "But I think I'm going to take a break from playing for a while."

Naomi Osaka, said on Friday

Earlier amid a crackling atmosphere inside Arthur Ashe Stadium. The typically ice-cold Osaka had uncharacteristically hurles her racket to the court on two straight points. Although, while dropping the first five of a second-set tiebreaker. Also drawing rare boos for one of the tournament's most popular players. However, that was since her breakthrough win over Serena Williams in the 2018 US Open final.

Also Read : Players who won the Golden Slam in their career

After leaving the court with a white towel draped over her head between sets without informing chair umpire Alison Hughes. Moreover, Osaka was promptly broken on her serve to open the third. After then received a code violation for firing a ball into the stands as Fernandez consolidated the break for 2-0. The rollicking near capacity crowd in the world's biggest tennis stadium didn't so much turn against Osaka as throw itself behind the 18-year-old underdog.

What Fernandez said after the match :

"I wasn't really focused on Naomi," Fernandez said. "I was only focused on myself, my game, what I needed to do. Having the crowd there supporting me and backing me up after every point, it's amazing. It gave me the energy to keep fighting, to keep working and keep running for those balls that she hit. "I was just glad that I was able to put on a show for everyone that came to watch."

Leylah Annie Fernandez, said after the match on Friday

Leylah Fernandez celebrates her win | Naomi Osaka | SportzPoint.com

Leylah Fernandez celebrates her win

Image : sportzlounge.co.in

Read Also : Last 5 US Open winners list (men's & women's)

The Montreal-born Fernandez, who turns 19 on Monday and is one of only two teenagers remaining in the women's draw. She absorbed Osaka's pace extremely well in the final stages and punctuated each big point. Also with animated fist-pumps to her box and appeals to the Ashe masses for more noise. The teenager captured her first and only WTA title earlier this year in Monterrey. However, she advances to a fourth-round match with Angelique Kerber, the two time major champion who broke her grand slam maiden at Flushing Meadows five years ago.

Us Open Naomi Osaka