Naomi Osaka, Wawrinka, Thiem and Andreescu given U.S. Open wild cards

So, she was given a sympathy pass.

Osaka is an interesting case. I can see why they'd give her a wild card if you take her actual potential into account. She did make a phenomenal start to her career; winning your first four slams puts you in a very elite group, even if she fell off the plateau pretty hard afterwards.

Far better to give her a wildcard than a joke like Emma Raducanu.

That's one unflattering photo of Osaka. Pregnancy pooch still or just a dad bod?

The photo of Naomi shows just how seriously she is taking tennis these days. Hence the sympathy pass or "commercial sponsor" pass as it should be called.

somedude:

winning your first four slams

Far from it. Her first GS title was during the 11th time she'd entered the main draw of a GS event. And before that, she'd failed in the qualifiers twice. And then there were 6 GS events she'd lost in between her 3rd and 4th GS title. Facts matter.

Yes, Radders hasn't live up to the hype, but what she did in those 2-3 weeks was phenomenal - 10 straight matches without losing a set as a qualifier, a few weeks after passing her A-level exams with flying colours - that's unliekly to be repeated in my lifetime. But yes, the girl has to pull her socks up although she's been beset with injuries.

USinJapan2:

That's one unflattering photo of Osaka. Pregnancy pooch still or just a dad bod?

Well, I was going to ask whether she was expecting again. I just hope she doesn't bring up depression again. Nobody is forcing her to stay on the tour. She and her children and grandchildren are set up for life.

Pukey, I was going by this:

Federer’s 7-0 start in Grand Slam finals is actually the best for a man or a woman in the Open Era—Monica Seles holds the women’s record in this stat, starting off 6-0 in Grand Slam finals, with Naomi Osaka next at 4-0 (and still active).

(See https://www.tennis.com/news/articles/roger-federer-records-winning-his-first-seven-grand-slam-finals)

Reading what I wrote again, I probably didn't phrase it correctly: I meant that she won the first four GS finals she reached.

As for Raducanu...I could be wrong, but I think she'll be seen as a flash in the pan. Too injury prone, too fond of sacking coaches, and probably realises that she could make a ton more money on a catwalk. Shades of Anna Kournikova, really.

Some Dude: Well, whether you stated it badly or not, at least you stated it. Where are all the other Osaka fans that were cheering her praises when she was winning? Hint: they're in the same place as the Nishikori and Ishikawa Ryu fans. Who are they, you ask? to which I answer, "Precisely". That'll be Osaka in a couple of years.