NEW YORK -- Naomi Osaka smashed her racket against Arthur Ashe Stadium’s court. She tossed her equipment and it bounced halfway to the net. Next, she sprang to the baseline.
Osaka was not playing. She lost her composure. The crowd was cheering her for taking so long between points and turning her back towards the court.
Osaka lost his title defense at the US Open in the third round to Leylah Fernandez. The 18-year-old Canadian from Canada is ranked 73rd, and has never been this far in Grand Slam competition.
Fernandez stated that he knew he could win the match.
Osaka? Osaka came in with a 16-match winning streak in majors and four career trophy wins, all on hard courts. This was Osaka’s first Slam tournament after she pulled out from the French Open before round two to take a mental break. She also sat out Wimbledon before she participated in the Tokyo Olympics where she lit the torch.
Osaka hadn’t competed since Monday, which could have contributed to her inability to close the set while she won against Fernandez (6-5) in the second set. Olga Danilovic (the woman she was supposed meet in round two), withdrew due to illness.
Osaka was Osaka's first time in action since the French Open on May 30th. Osaka missed her mandatory news conference on the day after her victory in Paris's first round. She was fined $15,000 and warned by the Slams that she might be suspended. Osaka responded by pulling out from Roland Garros. She explained that she has experienced anxiety speaking with the media and has suffered from depression for many years.
The 23-year old, who was born in Japan but has lived in the U.S. for the past three years, left the court seven games into the second set to change clothes and put on a highlighter yellow dress. In the first set, she was very strong down the stretch. She won 12 of the 13 remaining points, including the last nine. A break at love was followed by a hold at the love with the help a pair at 112 mph, and 114 respectively to close it.
Osaka looked on track to reach a similar conclusion in set 2. She led 6-5 and served. Fernandez won her first match break when Osaka missed her forehand, making it 6-5.
"I guess that I wanted to stay on the court a bit longer. Fernandez stated that she wanted to put on a show. "One hour was too short for me to be in court."
Osaka began her downward spiral. Osaka fell behind 5-0 in tiebreaker. She missed shots and displayed her frustration by throwing her racket, which she has done before. Osaka was not sanctioned by Alison Hughes, the chair umpire. However, a warning was later issued to Osaka for hitting a ball into a stand.
Fernandez stated, "Honestly, Naomi wasn't my focus." "I was concentrating on myself and what I had to do."
Osaka was also not at her best. After the second set, Osaka left court with a white towel over her head and didn't seem to be able to get her game moving the rest of the match.
Fernandez had a lot to do with it, especially because of her serve. In the third set, she won 18 of 19 first serve points and never faced a break.
Fernandez's quick-redirect, knee-to-the ground style at the baseline is reminiscent to Angelique Kerber, who was a three-time Grand Slam champion and won the 2016 US Open. Fernandez's next opponent is, of course.
Fernandez stated, "I'm going put on a show similar to what I did tonight." We'll see how it turns out.
