Naomi Osaka lost her temper and then lost her American Open title defense. And then a clearly shaken Osaka suggested he would take another break from the match.
Teenage Leylah Fernandez withdrew, arguably, from the biggest stupor of the tournament, rocking Osaka and returning to the court for a 5-7, 7-6 (2), 6-4 rally, during which the champion hit the racket three times and left the court after the tiebreak of the second set to try to compose.
It didn’t help.
An exciting Osaka had teary eyes at her post-match press conference, admitting she is “trying some things.” He said he would probably walk away from the game and wouldn’t know exactly when he would return.
“Basically, I feel like I’m at this point where I’m trying to figure out what I want to do, and I honestly don’t know when I’m going to play the next tennis game,” Osaka said, tearing up. “Yes. I think I’ll take a break from playing for a while. “
This came at the end of a night when the 18-year-old Fernandez faced Osaka, 23. Fernández won the streak of 16 winning matches of the senior champion, reached the round of 16 for the first time and got his first victory against an enemy of the first three.
“From the start, just before the game, I knew I was capable of winning,” Fernandez said in a televised interview on the court, adding that she was more determined in her own game than in the fall of Osaka. “Honestly, I didn’t focus on Naomi. I just focused on myself and what I had to do. “
The victory of the Canadian ranked in 73rd place came after she – or for the time being – reached the Japanese star, who threw her racket and threw it twice, all during the tiebreaker of the second set.
By the time Osaka took too long between points, while going down 30-0 in the last game, people were cheering contempt and mocking the champion.
“It simply came to our notice then. I’m not sure why. … He was telling me to be quiet, but I feel like maybe there was a boiling point. I usually feel like I like challenges, “Osaka said.” But lately I’ve been very anxious when things don’t go my way and I feel like you can feel it. “It’s happening now. But yes, that’s basically why. You could see it. I was a bit like a little boy.”
This was Osaka’s first major since leaving the French Open and was left out of Wimbledon, citing mental health issues.
“Recently I feel for myself, 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 it’s normal. I really didn’t want to cry, but basically I want to … “, said Osaka before leaving.
Instead, Fernandez shouted for joy at the victory.
With the first set scored at 5, Fernandez left his service and Osaka won 10 straight points. It was 5 in the second set when Osaka broke and served for the match. But Fernandez broke down.
That’s where the wheels really came out in Osaka.
After Osaka fell 2-0 in the tiebreaker, it crashed into the racket on the court. With Fernandez in service, the teen took a 4-0 lead and Osaka threw the racket. And at 5-0, he threw it again, an angry peak at the baseline.
Osaka left the field after losing the tiebreaker and headed for a small bathroom right next to the field with a covered towel on his head.
Fernández, taking advantage of the moment and playing in the crowd, opened the third set with a break and kept Osaka at bay. When he held on 5-3, Osaka had to serve to stay in the game and held on with an ace. But at the game point, when Osaka spread his return, it was all over.
Fernandez shouted for joy and put his fists in the air. He limited himself to the excitement and advanced to the round of 16.
What follows for Osaka is a mystery.