The defending champion of US open tennis lost her third-round match to Canada’s Leylah Fernandez in three sets. The world no.3 and four-time major title winner Naomi Osaka showed frustration on the court and express doubts after her match. In a press conference Osaka said:
I honestly don’t know when I’m going to play my next tennis match. I think I’m going to take a break from playing for a while.
Osaka was leading Canadian player by a set and broke Fernandez for a 6-5 lead in the second set, but after that Osaka couldn’t close it out. Osaka slammed her racquet in the court during the tea break. Fernandez wins this match by 2-1 sets.
The Canadian teen player will turn 19 on Monday and will face world no.16 and three-time major champion Angelique Kerber of Germany in her next game. Fernandez who played a good game gave credit for her win to the crowd as they support her during the match.
The Canadian teen player Fernandez talk to ESPN and told that:
It felt so energetic. The fans were amazing. They were so loud. They helped me so much throughout the second set and then the third. I’m just so happy to be on the big stage finally.
Osaka regrets her emotions shown in the court during her match with Fernandez and said that:
Yeah, I’m really sorry about that. I’m not really sure why. Like, I felt like I was pretty — I was telling myself to be calm, but I feel like maybe there was a boiling point. I feel like for me recently, like, when I win I don’t feel happy,” she said. “I feel more like a relief. And then when I lose, I feel very sad. I don’t think that’s normal.”
Fernandez is looking for gold for herself in the tournament and she is working hard to achieve her goal. She said my focus was on my game and not on Osaka. I did what was better for me and my game. I will only focus on my game and not on the opponent.