Naomi Osaka.Photo: Ibrahim Ezzat/NurPhoto via Getty
After a disappointing first-round defeat in the 2022 French Open on Monday,Naomi Osakais casting doubt on her commitment to Wimbledon later this year.
According toUSA Today, Osaka, 24, double-faulted twice on a break point in each set. The missteps resulted in a first-round loss to American Amanda Anisimova.
Osaka’s previous highest results at the French Open have been making it to the third round — in 2016, 2018 and 2019.
After the match, the four-time Grand Slam championtold reportersthat theWTA’sdecision not to include ranking points from this year’s tournament has affected her “mentality” around playing. Osaka said playing Wimbledon without points would be “more like an exhibition,” according toTheGuardian.
“I just can’t go at it 100%,” Osaka told reporters. “I didn’t even make my decision yet, but I’m leaning more towards not playing given the current circumstances.”
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Osaka said that while she doesn’t want to call competing in the tournament “pointless,” she explained that finding the motivation to play would be a challenge.
Osaka has become a prominent advocate for mental health in sports after the four-time Grand Slam champion opened up publicly about her struggles with depression.Osaka’s return to this year’s French Open came after she withdrew from the 2021 Grand Slam tournament, citing a mental health break.
During an interview withSELF,Osaka said she’s glad that her opening up about her own mental health “gave others the opportunity to also speak up.” She added that now she’s “content” in her “mental health journey.”
The 2022Wimbledontournament begins on Monday, June 27.
source: people.com
