Four words launched from the stands of the Indian Wells tennis tournament (California, United States), then the distress of Naomi Osaka. Broken at the start of the match, this Saturday March 12, by the Russian Veronika Kudermetova, the Japanese player (78and world) was attacked by a spectator in the third game of the first set: “Naomi, you suck! “.
Tears that she could not suppress flowed, after she complained about this behavior to the officials. Without consequence for the said spectator, when it sometimes happens in the NBA, the North American elite basketball championship, that fans are excluded from the rooms for their verbal provocations or their aggressive behavior.
Plagued by anxiety problems, Naomi Osaka failed to regroup: swept away 6-0, 6-4 by her opponent of the day, the former world number 1 was eliminated in the second round of the WTA 1000 of Indian Wells. Especially since her opponent of the day was able to remain imperturbable despite the circumstances, even when the Japanese, carried by a pride that we have rarely seen in such difficulties, seemed to return to the match. But Naomi Osaka finally lost her serve in the seventh game of the second set and the Russian didn’t miss the chance to put an end to it.
The boos against the Williams family
At the end of the meeting, the Japanese was able to take the microphone and express herself on the court, again with palpable emotion, and to loud applause:
“To be honest, I feel like I’ve been heckled before, it didn’t really bother me. But, I watched a video of Venus and Serena [Williams] getting heckled here. If you’ve never watched it, you should watch it. »
“I just wanted to say ‘Thank You.’ “I’ve gotten heckled before but heckled here, I watched a video of Venus and S… https://t.co/w5tX8xQSdm
During the final won by the youngest Serena against the Belgian Kim Clijsters in 2001, Venus and their father Richard were copiously insulted when taking their place in the stands and during the match. In question: the withdrawal of the eldest, the day before, a few minutes before the start of the semi-final between the two Americans, the late announcement of her renunciation and the rumor that it was a convenience injury decided by their father and trainer. As a result, the two champions refused to play in Indian Wells for fourteen years.
“I don’t know why, but it just popped into my head and it stuck…I’m trying not to cry. I just have to say thank you and congratulations”concluded Naomi Osaka, this time addressing Veronika Kudermetova.
” As good as possible “
In September 2021, after her premature elimination in the third round of the US Open of which she was defending champion, against the young Canadian Leylah Fernandez, the Japanese had burst into tears at a press conference. Previously, she had withdrawn during the tournament at Roland-Garros, after refusing to answer questions from the media, revealing to have lived “several depressive episodes”.
She had skipped Wimbledon, before returning home to the Tokyo Games, where she had lit the Olympic cauldron and where expectations were huge. But she had failed to glean a gold medal, being eliminated in the round of 16.
After her three-month break, in the wake of the US Open, Naomi Osaka assured that she felt ” as good as possible “ at the start of the Australian Open, where she was also defending her title but where she could not go beyond the third round. While she still appears very fragile psychologically, the question arises again of what her future will be on the courts.
