Naomi Osaka said she would take a break after losing to Leylah Fernandez in the third round at the US Open. (0:55).
NEW YORK -- Naomi Osaka, who lost in the third round of the US Open on Friday night was sobbing that she didn't know when she would play again in competitive tennis and decided to take a break from the sport.
Osaka spoke out after the loss to Leylah Farandez (5-7, 7-6 and 6-4) at a press conference.
Osaka stated that "I feel like I feel like recently, like, when my win isn't feeling happy." "I feel more like a relief. Then, when I lose, it makes me very sad. That's not normal.
Osaka, 23 years old, began to weep and the moderator tried to end the media session but Osaka said that she wanted to go on.
Osaka said, "Basically, I feel like I am at this point where it is trying to figure what I want to be a tennis player. And I honestly don’t know when my next match will be." Osaka said, "I think that I'm going take a break from tennis for a while."
The news conference was abruptly ended.
Osaka, who is the tournament's defending champion and was a four-time major victor, struggled during the match against Fernandez, 18, at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Her frustration was evident. Osaka smashed her racket onto the court and threw it one point. Later, she was warned for hitting the ball into the stands. After losing the tiebreak set, she was forced to leave the court with her head covered in a towel.
Osaka has been playing sparingly since her withdrawal from the French Open in May, just before she was due to face Osaka in the second round. Osaka, 23, stated that she would not be attending Roland Garros news conferences prior to the tournament. This decision caused a storm. After her win in the opening round, Osaka was fined and withdrew her support for the event.
In a social media post, she later admitted that she suffered from "long bouts depression" after her 2018 win at the US Open. Osaka skipped Wimbledon, and she didn't return to the sport until the Olympic Games in Japan. Osaka lost in Round 16 to Jil Teichmann at Western & Southern Open. She was the only lead-in participant in her event before the US Open.
Osaka, despite not having any matches, said that she was happy with her game at the US Open. She spoke out during a pre-tournament press conference and called it "really nice to be back". After Olga Danilovic (second round opponent) withdrew due to illness, Osaka advanced via walkover to the third round. Marie Bouzkova was defeated by Osaka in the first round, 6-4, 6-1.
The US Open is the final major of the year, but the WTA Finals, and the pandemic-delayed BNP Paribas Open (a 1000-level event), remain. There are also smaller tournaments.
