Four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka has been eliminated from the Olympics after losing to Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic.
This was the 24-year-old’s first time competing in the Olympics. She was playing for Japan.
“I definitely feel like there was a lot of pressure for this,” Osaka said to the Associated Press. “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 Olympics marked Osaka’s return to the court after withdrawing from both the French Open and Wimbledon to be closer with family and friends. She is currently ranked #2 in the world by the Women’s Tennis Association.
Read this opinion piece on the backlash Naomi received after pulling out from those competitions.
“I’ve taken long breaks before and I’ve managed to do well,” Osaka said to CNN. “I’m not saying that I did bad right now, but I do know that my expectations were a lot higher.”
“I feel like my attitude wasn’t that great because I don’t really know how to cope with that pressure so that’s the best that I could have done in this situation.”
Osaka had won her first two matches during the Tokyo Olympics. The final score of her final match was 6-1, 6-4.
“It’s tough for her also playing in Japan and in the Olympics,” Vondrousova also said. “It’s so much pressure, I cannot imagine.”
A high point will forever be close to her heart though—her lighting the Olympic torch.
“Undoubtedly the greatest athletic achievement and honor I will ever have in my life,” Osaka wrote of the moment on Instagram. “I have no words to describe the feelings I have right now but I do know I am currently filled with gratefulness and thankfulness, love you guys thank you.”
