Tokyo: The host country’s superstar, the woman who lit the Olympic flame, is out of the Tokyo Olympics. It has indeed come as a huge shock to her Japanese fans. Naomi Osaka lost to former French Open finalist Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic 6-1, 6-4 in the third round of the Olympic tennis tournament Tuesday.
The second-ranked Naomi Osaka was born in Japan, but grew up in the United States. She struggled with her usually reliable groundstrokes while the left-handed Vondrousova produced a series of drop-shot winners. She also played other crafty shots that drew her opponent out of her comfort zone.
“It’s tough for her also playing in Japan and in the Olympics,” the 42nd-ranked Vondrousova said after the match. “It’s so much pressure, I cannot imagine,” she added.
Osaka had won her opening two matches in straight sets following a two-month mental-health break. However, conditions were different Tuesday with the roof closed because it was raining outside.
Shortly after the match was over, organisers said that Osaka had left the venue and would not be talking to the media.
Playing Osaka for the first time, Vondrousova came out with her entire game clicking from the start. She quickly took a 4-0 lead in the first set as Osaka hardly had time to gather herself.
Osaka then broke Vondrousova’s serve in the opening game of the second set. However, she almost immediately handed the break back when she double-faulted to make it 2-2.
Osaka then lost her serve again to end the match by hitting a cross-court backhand wide. She shook hands with Vondrousova at the net, walked to her chair, zipped her racket up in her bag and followed Vondrousova off the court.
But it wasn’t simply an off day for Osaka; it was also an outstanding performance from Vondrousova.
“I also (beat) Simona (Halep) twice, but I think now she (Osaka) is the greatest that I have played,” Vondrousova said.
In men’s action, third-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece beat Frances Tiafoe of the United States 6-3, 6-4 to reach the last 16.
And Novak Djokovic added another medal event to his programme by entering the mixed doubles draw with Serbian partner Nina Stojanovic.