The 2020 tennis year of ... Naomi Osaka
It was short and sweet, Naomi Osaka's 2020 tennis year. Which turned up especially after the Corona break - and also set an example off the field.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Dec 26, 2020, 11:18 am
It is often the case that after a surprisingly successful year, a season of disillusionment follows. Because the pressure, from outside and inside, was too great to repeat the successes directly. Because you want to prove to yourself that these weren't a coincidence, that you don't want to put on the label "entry fly". And above all: it is really good at tennis.
The most recent example: Naomi Osaka. She had the breakthrough in 2018, moving from a ranking outside the top 70 to the top 5, from winning in Indian Wells to triumphing at the US Open. And at the beginning of 2019, with the triumph at the Australian Open, continued right away, triumphing to the top of the world rankings. The rest of the year? Streaked. Okay for a player outside the top 70, not enough for a top player.
By the end of 2019, however, Osaka had recovered, with victories in Osaka and Beijing. The beginning of 2020: but only so-so. Semi-finals in Brisbane, third round at the Australian Open, where Osaka lost to Cori Gauff in the re-match of the previous US Open. And then at the Fed Cup in a true orgy of mistakes against Sara Sorribes Tormo with 0: 6, 3: 6 went down.
Corona break brings Osaka forward personally
The Corona break, it was good for Osaka. "I've been able to do things outside of tennis, to live in a world apart from tennis - as I've never done and probably never can, " she recently told the New York Times . "I could spend more time for myself, to think. To look at the world and understand."
During the months of the break, she, who likes to act so shy, thought about raising her voice more often. Which she did as a result of the "Black Lives Matter" protests in the USA. At their first appearance, the Western & Southern Open, Osaka played into the final; she had already canceled her semifinals due to the police violence against Jacob Blake. The entire tournament was paused for 24 hours, Osaka withdrew its cancellation. For the final against Victoria Azarenka, however, she did not appear because of a thigh injury.
Osaka sets an example at the US Open
Osaka was back at the US Open, according to coach Wim Fissette as determined and eager as any player he had ever trained. Osaka wanted to set an example: She wanted to wear seven masks with the names of victims of police violence, a name for each of her matches.
In the end there were actually seven. Osaka ("I wouldn't go to a tournament if I didn't expect to play seven matches") presented itself strongly, despite the tape on my thigh. Especially the semi-final against Jennifer Brady was great tennis, in the final against Victoria Azarenka she showed fighting qualities, fought her way back into the match after falling behind in sets and breaks and in the end triumphed with 1: 6, 6: 3, 6: 3 - her third grand Slam victory at all.
What message she wanted to send out by wearing the seven masks, "she was asked by ESPN presenter Tom Rinaldi." Well, what message did you get, "Osaka replied." I think it was about that they start people talking about it. "
Finally, she promised on Twitter: "All the people who told me 'get politics out of sport' (even though it wasn't political at all) inspired me to win. Believe me, I'll try for as long as possible to appear on your television. "
Naomi Osaka in 2020
- Match balance 16: 3
- 1 tournament win - US Open
- World number 3