Tokyo Olympics 2020 witnessed a major shock as Naomi Osaka, the hometown favorite crashed out of the tournament in the third round.
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Naomi Osaka had plenty of hope of achieving something spectacular in her home country. The Tokyo Olympics 2020 was intended to be a big statement for Osaka. Instead, she crashed out in the third round of the Tokyo Olympics in straight sets. Osaka lost 1-6, 4-6 to Czech Republic’s Marketa Vondrousova. The multiple Australia and US Open title winner could not make it count in her home country for the Olympics.
Osaka, who had lit the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony, simply looked out of rhythm on Tuesday. In the 68-minute encounter, Osaka had plenty of unforced errors. She allowed the 2019 French Open finalist to run away with the game. The match started disastrously for Osaka as she was broken in her first game itself. That gave Vondrousova the advantage and she extended it. Osaka was broken twice as Vondrousova won the first set 6-1.
Osaka put up a better fight in the second set as Vondrousova tried to seize the initiative. Her inconsistency and unforced errors, combined with the effective use of the drop shot by the Czech player, made life difficult for Osaka. The Japanese broke early in the second set but a double fault allowed Vondrousova to level the match.
The Czech player broke once again and this time, there was no comeback for Osaka as she lost in straight sets. This has thrown open the possibility of a new individual getting a medal this time in the Tokyo Olympics 2020.
Naomi Osaka created a storm when she boycotted the press conferences in the French Open. The reason she did so was to protect her own mental health. However, the backlash against it was fierce. But after she pulled out of the Grand Slam, she got plenty of support from people around the world.
All four Grand Slams – Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open – supported her decision to withdraw from the ongoing Roland Garros. “On behalf of the Grand Slams, we wish to offer Naomi Osaka our support and assistance in any way possible as she takes time away from the court. She is an exceptional athlete and we look forward to her return as soon as she deems appropriate,” the four Grand Slams said in a joint statement.
Osaka pulled out of Wimbledon but the 23-year-old has stated that she will compete in the end-of-July Tokyo Olympics. The Japanese star was expected to be one of the faces of the Tokyo Games in her home country and will be deemed a favourite for the gold medal. However, Osaka’s absence from a second consecutive Grand Slam will be missed by her fans. After withdrawing from the French Open in the early stages, her decision to skip another major tournament will be a big blow for the grasscourt Grand Slam. She was the latest high-profile player to withdraw from the forthcoming Grand Slam after Rafael Nadal.
For India, their campaign has ended after Sania Mirza-Ankita Raina crashed out in the doubles. Sumit Nagal also was dumped out after losing to Daniil Medvedev.
