tennis

Anisimova stuns Osaka as Nadal sends title warning

23 Comments
By Martin PARRY

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23 Comments
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Wow! Talk about a fall from grace. Naomi has gone from Tokyo’s Olympic cauldron lighter to perennial second/third round loser in less than a year. She is now ranked #84 in the world. (https://tennistonic.com/rankings/?m=wta&live=normal)

Naomi Osaka’s match record since April 2021: (12 wins, 8 losses)

January, Australian Open, third-round loss to 20-year-old American ranked 60th in the world (2-1)

January, Melbourne Summer Set, withdrew in semifinals (3-1)

September, U.S. Open, first-round win, second-round opponent withdrew for medical reasons, third-round loss (2-1)

August, Western & Southern Open, third-round loss after first round bye (1-1)

July, Olympics, third-round loss (2-1)

June, French Open, withdrew after first round (1-1)

May, Italian Open, second-round loss after first round bye (0-1)

April, Madrid Open, second-round loss (1-1)

15 ( +20 / -5 )

Knew she would lose. Her break was too short. Should have taken a bit more time to get back in shape. These days, most of her rivals probably see her as a stepping stone to boast their fame whenever they defeat her.

2 ( +10 / -8 )

This was a classic case for a tennis player beating a fashion model....

8 ( +14 / -6 )

beating a fashion model....

that’s a bit harsh on fashion models

I think she’s been getting fashion tips from Serena Williams

4 ( +13 / -9 )

Well played to Amanda. Good game. Potential Major winner there.

Naomi just didn't have the miles in her legs if her matches went to 3 sets. Nothing at all in the tank at the end. She will be better for the run, and there are still 3 more Majors this year to make it 5 in 5 years.

1 ( +7 / -6 )

She did well going to three sets considering the limited court time she has had lately. Ash Barty and her team will be watching replays closely.

-8 ( +2 / -10 )

Osaka is and shall be just fine. When you win 4 grand slam titles by the age of 24 (which is the most Slams of any active player not named Serena or Venus), you're more than allowed a slump once in a while.

-7 ( +6 / -13 )

@The Original Wing

Yea, yea, yea. Less than four months ago, you were boasting (and I quote) “She's won 2 of the past 5 Grand Slam tournaments, and has so many ranking points that she remains ranked in the top-10. Why don't you give us a list of players who are doing better?”

I can give you a list of 83 players who are doing better!

11 ( +15 / -4 )

congratulations to the winner!

4 ( +8 / -4 )

Golden chance for Naomi to toughen and learn and grow stronger, a process they/we all have to go through.

-4 ( +6 / -10 )

""You know, I'm not God," said the dethroned Japanese champion."

Oh, we know, thank you.

8 ( +15 / -7 )

Don't worry, Japan has a new tennis hero ... Taro Daniel. Though born in the US, he speaks Japanese and even attended school for a few years in Japan.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Don't worry, Japan has a new tennis hero ... Taro Daniel. 

LOL. Taro-san is hardly "new" - he has been on the professional circuit for 12 years!

Hoping he can somehow upset Jannik Sinner tonight and go deep into the 2nd week!

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Will her sponsors keep with her now she is a nobody in tennis and has to rebuild her standing from the beginning? Will she ever be able to do this considering her always fragile state? Will the incessant stories and following of her in Japan cease. She doesn’t live in Japan. She seems to have has zero concern or interest for Japanese issues and in fact I imagine she doesn’t even like Japan anyhow except for the benefits of using that as her pseudo nationality and the sponsor revenue.

10 ( +14 / -4 )

She seems to have has zero concern or interest for Japanese issues and in fact I imagine she doesn’t even like Japan anyhow except for the benefits of using that as her pseudo nationality and the sponsor revenue.

It will be interesting to see whether she can still remain one of the world's most paid athlete.

She doesn’t live in Japan.

Well, I'm not really concerned about that. But I do feel sorry for all those Japanese who were forced to give up their other passports and dual nationality just because they didn't have the leverage due to not being rich and famous. If she doesn't work at her game (and get itself in shape!), even more Japanese will start thinking of her as "that American player."

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Spiteful comments aimed at a 24 year-old woman from middle-aged men is never a good look.

-4 ( +13 / -17 )

"You know, I'm not God," said the dethroned Japanese champion.

I never for one moment thought you were, dear. Get over yourself already.

7 ( +12 / -5 )

I forsee that she wont be characterized as Japan related much longer. If not for that at the Olympics I think she would already be done, too soon to distance when she just lit the flame like 6 months ago.

that happens to the "kind of foreigner" great fighting champions who suddenly start getting knocked out all the time as their skills diminish.

Less and less public connection to Japan, not coming out with the flag or to Japanese music....beginning of the end.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

I didnt think that she could have possibly said that. thought it was like a paraphrase or a summary of what people felt she meant.

No, she actually said it and a lot more.

“I fought for every point, I can’t be sad about that,” the former World No.1, who was seeded 13th, said. “You know, I’m not God. I can’t win every match. So I just have to take that into account and know that it would be nice to win the tournament, that’s really special, and I can’t think of myself to try to win the Grand Slam at the start of the year every time. I feel like I grew a lot in this match. The last match that I played in New York [US Open] I think I had a completely different attitude, so of course I lost, but I’m happy with how it went.”

3 ( +6 / -3 )

I can't help but think the turning point in her career was when she started focussing on activism over tennis. Its all fallen apart since then, I bet she bitterly regrets that BLM nonesense.

6 ( +14 / -8 )

I think most of the comments here on Naomi chan are too harsh.

I think she hastily came back without getting in shape. Am I the only one

who noticed she had added some fat around her stomach. She has to

spend less time with that her rapper boyfriend and hit the gym.

1 ( +9 / -8 )

Eh. She'll be fine. She's got plenty of talent. She'll win some. She'll lose some. Hopefully more of the former. If not, that's the way it goes.

I don't understand all the weird vitriol in these posts, though. Strange stuff coming from folks who probably couldn't answer even one of her serves.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

Indeed and agree: PaustovskyToday  11:56 am JST

"Spiteful comments aimed at a 24 year-old woman from middle-aged men is never a good look."

Osaka is still and remains one of the most talented and successful tennis players on the women's tour. Vapid comments by partisan chauvinists are simply queer and determinedly male.

Her activism is appreciated and the vitriol thrown at her by ageing boyz is not just flimsy and lazy but rather dumb.

-6 ( +4 / -10 )

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