Naomi Osaka Loses in Third Round of Tokyo Olympics Tennis Tournament
Tennis superstar Naomi Osaka lost to former French Open finalist Marketa Vondrousova.
Naomi Osaka is OUT! ❌
The Japanese second seed has lost 6-1 6-4 to Czech world number 42 Marketa Vondrousova in the third round of the women's singles
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The Czech Republic’s Vondrousova defeated the Japanese second seed 6-1, 6-4 in 68 minutes in the third round of the tennis competition. Vondrousova is the first player through to the women’s singles quarter-finals and awaits the winner of the game between Spain’s Paula Badosa and Argentina’s Nadia Podoroska.
A shocker in Tokyo…#CZE Marketa Vondrousova stuns home favourite Naomi Osaka 6-1 6-4 in 68 minutes to reach the #Olympics quarter-finals #Tennis | #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/jvPDGxH4iU
— ITF (@ITFTennis) July 27, 2021
Just last week, Osaka lighted the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony.
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) July 23, 2021
Osaka said she was disappointed at her loos.
As a four-time Grand Slam champion, the highest-paid female athlete in the world and the host country’s poster girl for the Games, the huge expectations were hard to handle.
“I definitely feel like there was a lot of pressure for this,” Osaka said. “I think it’s maybe because I haven’t played in the Olympics before and for the first year (it) was a bit much.”
The second-ranked Osaka, who was born in Japan and grew up in the United States, struggled with her usually reliable groundstrokes while the left-handed Vondrousova produced a series of drop-shot winners and other crafty shots that drew her opponent out of her comfort zone.
“It’s tough for her also playing in Japan and in the Olympics,” the 42nd-ranked Vondrousova said. “It’s so much pressure, I cannot imagine.”
Osaka won her opening two matches in straight sets following a two-month mental health break. But conditions were different Tuesday with the roof closed because it was raining outside.
Daring to dream.
🇨🇿 Marketa Vondrousova is the first player through to the women’s singles quarterfinals, upsetting Naomi Osaka in straight sets. #Olympics • #Tennis • #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/wWVyxva7Kz
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) July 27, 2021