Serena, Osaka crash out of French Open

While Siniakova is the 43rd ranked singles player, she is number 1 in doubles. A fact that I'm sure contributed to her fine offensive play.

I watched a portion of that match and the outcome doesn't surprise me. I turned it off because points weren't being scored because of winning shots, but because of continuous sloppy errors. Osaka looked like her feet were stuck in cement. Perhaps she was tired from her previous matches?

I've been leading team "Don't worry, Osaka is fine," but I'm now starting to have doubts. She fired her coach and wasn't particularly gracious in her comments about it. In this article she's talking about battling stress and pressure. The Nike ad was about her trying to block out distractions. And her tennis results have been quite disappointing during this whole episode. I'm starting to wonder if she's just not mentally strong enough to handle the same and status that came with winning 2 majors in a row. I hope she can find her way, but I'm less confident than I have been

I am really disappointed. Naomi-chan must be injured?

Her "injuries" are more likely to be psychological as has been indicated.

Her Nike ad says it all.

https://www.thedrum.com/news/2019/05/29/shhhh-naomi-osaka-delivers-pointed-message-media-new-nike-campaign

Karma

Ganbare Japan!:

I thought clay was her best surface. Oh, I know, grass is her best surface.

Siniakova is a brilliant player, not perfect, but tough and resilient.

Osaka did not lose to Siniakova; she lost to herself. Not an enjoyable spectacle.

Usually "you dance with the person who bought you to the dance" but Naomi dropped her coach as soon as she got the #1 spot and she has been on a downward slope ever since which will just compound the pressure. While I like her and was on her bus since 2017 I don't have much sympathy. She needs to go back to what she was doing in 2018 and turn of all the external noise, (family or commercial manager?). Hire a good PR manager and stay foccused on the tennis. A phone call to Sascha Bajin asking to meet and chat about things might be a good idea. You can be successful AND happy but losing sucks no matter what way you look at it. Good luck.

ganbare japan: "I am really disappointed."

And you have every right to be, as a professional tennis player yourself who has surpassed her level and has the right to expect as much from her. How dare she lose! It's almost like a potential gold medal you've already counted has slipped from your own shoulders!

"Naomi-chan must be injured?"

Of course! Or maybe she's saving her energy for the next time, or the other player was too tall, or she was the only person sleepy in the whole event because she had played another game. Choose your excuse. She lost. People lose. Deal with it.

Naomi is going the path of Nishikori, but a lot faster, and will be much more quickly forgotten by those who one day say she's Japanese and the next day snub her for being "hafu". She let go of her coach over pettiness, while he was in the right, and she has been no good since. Should have paid him the contract rate and stuck with him.

If Osaka doesn't improve, her Japanese grandfather might start ignoring her again.

As for her former coach, that ship has sailed. At least one of them is not going to want to lose face.

Their losses mean that 14 of the top 20 seeds in the women's draw have failed to make the second week in Paris.

Naomi is not the only top seeds underperforming. Therefore, I do not think it is the end of her. On the other hand, it may be a good chance for her to find some answers. By the way, I believe her record on clay is not that great. Also she has already won 2 grand slams which many tennis players can only dream of doing. Do people really expect her to continue winning every single matches? Be realistic and stop unreasonable expectations.

If Osaka doesn't improve, her Japanese grandfather might start ignoring her again.

If this really happens then it is really sad and I truly despise that old man.

yoshisan88: "If this really happens then it is really sad and I truly despise that old man."

Sadly, it does. And a lot of fans act that way, too. Three years ago 99% of the people who are "fans" now didn't know her name, or if they did said, "She's not Japanese". Once she won last year they were all suddenly talking about how Japanese she is, and "how cute" it is when she tries to speak the language. Now they are fans if she wins, and turn off the TV if she doesn't.

Now they are fans if she wins, and turn off the TV if she doesn't.

90% of the world's sports fans in one sentence. Not a Japanese phenomenon.