TOKYO: Japan's great hope for tennis gold Naomi Osaka was beaten on Tuesday in the third round of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics tournament, saying she had not known how to cope with the pressure of the occasion.
The world number two was swiped aside 6-1 6-4 by Czech Marketa Vondrousova in a shock result which dealt a blow to Japan's goldrush hopes.
Tokyo 2020 had marked Osaka's first tournament since pulling out of Roland Garros in May, when she said she had been suffering from depression for almost three years.
Osaka had said then she would boycott news conferences to raise awareness of players' mental well-being, but spoke to reporters after this defeat.
"I definitely feel like there was a lot of pressure, this time around," she said. "I think it's maybe because I haven't played in an Olympics before and for the first one to be here was a bit much.
"But I think I'm glad with how I played... with taking that break that I had. I've taken long breaks before and I've managed to do well.
"And I'm not saying that I did that right now, but I do know that my expectations were a lot higher than how my result was. So... I think my attitude wasn't that great, but I didn't really know how to cope with that pressure... so that's the best that I could have done in this situation.
"For me, I'm really glad to be here. I'm sad that I lost, of course, but all in all really happy with my first Olympic experience."
The tennis event has now lost both of its women top draw cards after world number one and Wimbledon champion Ash Barty was beaten in Sunday's first round.
Osaka, who lit the Olympic cauldron on Friday to open the Games, seemed out of sorts on the Tokyo blue courts and never settled into a rhythm as Vondrousova forged ahead.
The Japanese player sprayed a costly 18 unforced errors throughout the match - three times the number made by Vondrousova.
In the quarter-finals the Czech will next face either Spain's Paula Badosa or Nadia Podoroska of Argentina, who play later on Tuesday.
Reuters
Tue Jul 27 2021
Naomi Osaka of Japan walks off after losing her third round match against Marketa Vondrousova of Czech Republic, Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Tennis - Women's Singles - Round 3 - Ariake Tennis Park - Tokyo, Japan, July 27, 2021. - REUTERS
Dr Mahathir fail semakan kehakiman mohon prosiding RCI Batu Puteh dijalankan secara terbuka
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad memfailkan permohonan kebenaran semakan kehakiman supaya prosiding RCI untuk Mengkaji Pengendalian Perkara Berkaitan Kes Kedaulatan Batu Puteh dijalankan secara terbuka.
Penuntut Malaysia di Jepun perlu tanam minat jadi pemimpin, bantu pembangunan negara - Johari
Belia Malaysia yang melanjutkan pengajian di Jepun perlu menanam semangat untuk kembali ke tanah air dan menjadi pemimpin baharu yang mampu membawa perubahan kepada negara.
WMO berjaya kurangkan kes denggi antara 45 dan 100 peratus - Lukanisman
Operasi Nyamuk Wolbachia (WMO), berjaya mengurangkan jumlah kes denggi antara 45 hingga 100 peratus di 19 lokaliti.
Pesara polis rugi lebih RM310,000 diperdaya 'phone scam'
Seorang pesara polis mengalami kerugian lebih RM310,000 selepas terperdaya dengan sindiket "phone scam" atau penipuan melalui panggilan telefon.
Lebih 100 kes penebangan hutan secara haram direkodkan di Kelantan - MB
Sebanyak 137 kes penebangan hutan secara haram di Kelantan dikenal pasti dari 2020 hingga 2023, kata Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Nassuruddin Daud.
Hanya 20 peratus atlet terlibat program celik kewangan, persaraan - Shalin Zulkifli
Hanya 20 peratus daripada lebih 500 atlet kebangsaan yang menyertai program celik kewangan.
Prosedur pemeriksaan kesihatan warga emas menyeksakan, perlu dasar bersepadu - Pakar
Prosedur pemeriksaan kesihatan ketika ini, khususnya dalam sektor swasta, sangat menyeksa warga emas.
Tumpuan Khamis – 06 Jun 2024
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan di Astro AWANI.
JSJK terima 19 laporan berkaitan tawaran kerja palsu menerusi lynxoasis.com
Polis menerima 19 laporan di seluruh negara berkaitan sindiket penipuan yang menawarkan pekerjaan palsu melalui laman sesawang 'lynxoasis.com' dengan melibatkan nilai kerugian RM688,099.
Pindaan Akta 50 bakal selesai kemelut Parallel Pathway - Dr Dzulkefly
Pindaan terhadap Akta Perubatan 1971 (Akta 50) akan menyelesaikan kemelut pendaftaran doktor perubatan yang mendapatkan kelayakan kepakaran perubatan melalui laluan paralel (parallel pathway).
Syakilla 'berguru' di Amsterdam
Selepas menampilkan prestasi mengecewakan pada Sukan Asia 2018, jaguh karate negara, Syakilla Salni Jefry Krisnan, bakal 'berguru' di Amsterdam selama tiga bulan.