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Osaka in tears after epic Swiatek defeat but admits: 'I've felt worse'

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“As Osaka neared victory, she froze.” — The Guardian

Naomi has always played well against Swiatek. In May 2020, Naomi was ranked No. 3 in the world. Swiatek was 19 years old. Over the next two years, Swiatek demonstrated her supreme resilience by surging to the No. 1 ranking, where she has since remained for all but eight weeks. Naomi’s ranking has gradually fallen to No. 134, where she finds herself today.

Let face it, Naomi wasn’t performing well before giving birth. Since April 2022, she has had a professionally mediocre record. And even though she made a valiant effort in this match against an opponent she’s historically played well against, she choked yet again by losing match point on her own serve in the third set. In the end, Naomi recorded another loss. Some apparently wonder whether she continues to play simply to fulfill her lucrative sponsorship agreements.

— Naomi’s Match Record Since April 2022

18 wins, 18 loses

— Naomi’s Tournament Record Since March 2021

28 tournament entries, 0 tournament wins

Coverage: 18 months before maternity leave, 5 months after

5 ( +11 / -6 )

Mentally fragile.

-13 ( +9 / -22 )

Japan's national heroine will bounce back. Interesting though no TV sports digests/ reports have zero coverage or interest in her.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

Interesting though no TV sports digests/ reports have zero coverage or interest in her.

not really.

this happens all the time in Japan. When they WIN, they are on every channel every night, 24/7.

when they lose...............who????

run down the recent list..........the swimmer guy from the olympics, that won medals, can't remember his name. Nishikori Kei? was that his name? The golfer, Ryo? Darvish. The ping pong player that married the Chinese guy? She also went crazy. Fukushima Ai? Anyone on the Nadeshiko Japan team that won the world cup.....the list can go on and on.

Osaka will just be one of those on that list.

 she added. "But the results are not resulting!"

wow. riveting comment.

I don't think a result can do resulting. Maybe a chair can do charing? Or a table do some tabeling?

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

It's great to hear that Naomi Osaka is making a comeback and showing renewed dedication to winning. I think we will see her as one of the best players on the court again soon.

-2 ( +6 / -8 )

socrateos

It's great to hear that Naomi Osaka is making a comeback...

Really? Don't you have to actually win something to make a comeback?

-7 ( +5 / -12 )

She played phenomenally for someone who had been out of action in the majors so long. For anyone to take Swiatek to match point, is an accomplishment.

-5 ( +5 / -10 )

Someone needs to tell her some home truths.

-2 ( +6 / -8 )

BigP - what might those home truths be?

Serious question.

10 months ago she gave birth to her daughter.

Prior to her pregnancy, she'd certainly been troubled physically, emotionally, mentally and was off the page.

Can't see with her return to the world tour, seemingly fresher and brighter than in a long time and taking the world # 1 to match point, what home truths she needs to be told.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

AsianMan7 -

Naomi’s Match Record Since April 2022

18 wins, 18 loses

— Naomi’s Tournament Record Since March 2021

28 tournament entries, 0 tournament wins

Coverage: 18 months before maternity leave, 5 months after

AsianMan's sports record:

4th place in the school egg-and-spoon race in 1972.

That is all.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

Really, has there ever been a pro player whose pregnancy and giving birth gets shoved down our throats every single article?

-1 ( +7 / -8 )

She's worth over $50 million. Carefully invested it should see her and her family live comfortably. Anything new she achieves in tennis now is a major bonus. In the history of sport how often did top class athletes return from 'time out' from their sport to dominate once again?

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

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