Naomi Osaka Announces Break After Loss at U.S. Open
Figuring out what's next.
Naomi Osaka, reigning tennis champion of the U.S. open, told reporters that she will be taking a break from professional competitions for an undetermined amount of time. This follows her loss in the third round of the 2021 U.S. open on Friday, September 3, against Canadian player Leylah Fernandez.
She revealed during her news conference, “I’m trying to figure out what I want to do, and I honestly don’t know when I’m going to play my next tennis match.” She further stated, "I feel like for me recently, like, when I win, I don't feel happy, I feel more like a relief. And then when I lose, I feel very sad. I don't think that's normal."
In addition, as reported by ESPN, Osaka was visibly discontent during her match against Fernandez as “she smashed her racket on the court and at one point threw it”.
Osaka, 23, has previously been in the spotlight for opening up about her struggles with mental health at the French Open where she pulled out of her media obligations and later withdrew from the competition, prompting a fine of $15,000. As an advocate for mental health awareness, it seems that for the meantime Osaka will focus on her own mental wellbeing as it is undetermined when she will return to tennis.
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