Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka says she will take an indefinite break from tennis
Wiping away tears in her post match press conference, Naomi Osaka says she is taking an extended break after a shock US Open loss.
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Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, wiping away tears, said after an upset third-round US Open loss on Friday that she will take an indefinite break from playing tennis.
“I honestly don’t know when I’m going to play my next tennis match,” Osaka said in a news conference after losing to Canada’s Leylah Fernandez.
Wiping away tears, she said, “I think I’m going to take a break from playing for a while.” With that, she put on a face mask, rose from her chair and ended the session.
Four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka was shocked by Canadian left-hander Leylah Fernandez 5-7, 7-6 (7/2), 6-4.
Osaka, who had won her prior 16 Grand Slam matches, was foiled in a bid for her third US Open crown in four years and the first back-to-back titles since Serena Williams in 2014.
She also had a major meltdown on court during the final moments of the second set after she was unable to hold serve for the victory.
“From the very beginning, right before the match, I knew I was able to win,” Fernandez said. “Thanks to New York fans. They helped me get the win.” Osaka, who hadn’t played since Monday thanks to a second-round walkover, took the first set in 37 minutes on her sixth ace.
But Osaka was broken in the 12th game of the second set, an errant forehand sending her to a tie-breaker.
That began a sequence of repeated racquet smashing by Osaka as she was humbled in the tie-break to force a third set.
“I wanted to stay on court a little longer,” Fernandez said. “One hour was just not enough for me.” Fernandez, the daughter of an Ecuadoran father and Filipino-Canadian mother who turns 19 on Monday, hit a forehand winner to break Osaka to start the third set.
Osaka saved two break points to hold in the third game and from there both held to the finish, which came after two hours and four minutes, sending Fernandez against German 16th seed Angelique Kerber in her first Grand Slam fourth round appearance.
“It’ll be a battle,” Fernandez said. “We’re just going to have fun. I’ll put on a show like I did tonight.” Fernandez, who won her first WTA title in March at Monterrey, had never beaten so high-ranked a rival as third-rated Osaka and the same was true for Alcaraz when he sent home the men’s world number three.
BATHROOM BREAK DEFENCE BACKFIRES BADLY ON BOOED STAR
Stuart Fraser
The rules on bathroom breaks are set to be reviewed after Stefanos Tsitsipas again courted controversy with another long spell away from the court, this time during his second-round victory against Adrian Mannarino.
The world No 3 from Greece was heavily criticised by Andy Murray after their first-round match on Monday for leaving the court for eight minutes before the deciding set to change his clothes.
While there is no defined time limit in the grand-slam rulebook, it does state that a break should be “for a reasonable time”.
Tsitsipas was two sets up on Wednesday before France’s Mannarino took the third set. The No 3 seed responded by taking a seven-minute break, forcing his opponent to hit practice serves in an attempt to keep his muscles warm. The 23-year-old from Greece, who returned to loud boos from the New York crowd, won the fifth set 6-0.
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The breaks taken by Tsitsipas are not in breach of the rules, but the United States Tennis Association hinted at a rethink. In a statement, it said: “We need to continue to review and explore potential adjustments to the rules, whether for bathroom breaks/change of attire or other areas, that can positively impact the pace of play for our fans and ensure the fairness and integrity of the game.”
An ATP spokesman added: “Review of rules around toilet breaks, in addition to medical time outs, has been an area of focus in recent months. This remains work in progress.”
Murray rather pointedly tweeted yesterday morning: “Did anything interesting happen overnight?”
Tsitsipas, however, was unrepentant. “I think that break after the third set helped me refresh, as I like to do,” he said. “It’s good for me to be less sweaty and feel fresh, start a new set with a fresh mindset and recalibrate myself. For me it is important to take that break. For someone else probably not. I try and be as quick as I can. Sometimes I just need a bit more time.”
Tsitsipas then asked one reporter to check how long Murray’s break had been before the fifth set against Novak Djokovic in the 2012 US Open final — a set that the Scot won.
Told that it was less than three minutes, Tsitsipas said: “Less than three minutes, OK.”
WHAT IS THE RULE SURROUNDING TOILET BREAKS IN TENNIS?
The grand-slam rulebook permits players in a best-of-five-set match to have up to two bathroom breaks, during which they can go to the toilet or change their clothing. These must be taken between sets. The vague line that reads “A player may request permission to leave the court for a reasonable time” leaves this open for abuse. No limit means that this is open to the interpretation of the umpire.
ARE PLAYERS ALLOWED TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR COACHES DURING THESE BREAKS?
No. The rules clearly state that coaching of any form is not allowed during a match. Players are usually accompanied by an official of some sort, whether it be a line judge or supervisor, to make sure they do not attempt to make contact with anyone. But this is hard to strictly enforce if a player enters an enclosed cubicle and starts sending text messages in silence.
WHAT COULD BE INTRODUCED TO STOP PLAYERS USING THESE BREAKS AS GAMESMANSHIP TACTICS?
A maximum time limit would be a start. Other suggestions include the deduction of points or games if a player takes too long, and some form of a cap on breaks throughout a season to prevent serial offenders.
TORNADO WREAKS HAVOC AT US OPEN
US Open organisers have been slammed for potentially endangering the lives of players and crowds amid tornado warnings in New York City with video showing how appalling conditions are.
In one of the most bizarre match stoppages, blowing wind and rain under the corners of the Louis Armstrong Stadium roof halted a men’s second-round matchup, despite the roof being closed.
South African Kevin Anderson was playing Argentina’s 11th-seeded Diego Schwartzman when showers stopped them three points into the second set.
Torrential rains, the remnants of deadly Hurricane Ida, were blown under the corners of the retractable roof at the facility, opened in 2018 to provide a second court to keeping playing despite downpours.
“You can’t play in this, (it’s) crazy,” said Jason Goodall in commentary for ESPN.
“I’m surprised they’ve even played that point there,” he added following the next point.
😳
— The First Serve (@TheFirstServeAU) September 2, 2021
Wild weather at the #USOpen#TheFirstServepic.twitter.com/3AM2nfoLsL
“You can see very clearly it’s coming in through the ventilation on both sides it’s just whether it’s falling enough on court to stop play. If one of the players in this situation thinks it’s unsafe then you’ve got to be fair to both.
“The rain and wind have made things unplayable. Everybody’s got umbrellas up in the crowd because it’s going sideways then dropping onto the court. It’s turned into a bit of a shambles.”
It is the first time New York has ever been issued with a flash flooding warning.
Think the @usopen might have to make some slight improvements to Louis Armstrong Stadium’s roof #Tornadopic.twitter.com/KlscX9Rj8e
— Solomon Rapoport (@SolomonRapoport) September 2, 2021
But windblown rain forced a drying machine onto the court and a host of towel-wielding court workers to try and soak up the moisture from the rain-slickened court.
The first stoppage came at 5-5 in the first set, when the machine helped get the court back in condition.
The second stoppage came at 4-4 in a first-set tie-breaker and consisted mostly of wiping down the lines so play could continue.
Flash Flood Emergency including New York NY, Brooklyn NY, Queens NY until 11:30 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/Phpg3otRnk
— NWS New York NY (@NWSNewYorkNY) September 2, 2021
When it resumed, Schwartzman won the first three points to win the set. Anderson led 30-15 serving in the first game of the second set when the decision was finally made to suspend the match.
The area was under a tornado warning and flash flood watch from the US National Weather Service during the deluge.
Fans were quick to vent their frustration that play was not abandoned sooner given the deadly nature of the tornado which has left a trail of destruction in recent days.
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@usopen very disappointed. Ashe and Armstrong covered courts stood empty for hours while outside courts rained out. Tornado and flash flood emergencies in tri-state areas but play continues putting players and fans in harm’s way.#SafetyFirst
— Lynn Broder (@Biglynn22) September 2, 2021
Elevated alert just issued by US Open organisers, including a tornado watch in the local region. Play has just stopped on Louis Armstrong Stadium because the rain is coming in sideways in the openings under the roof. Spectators have the brollies out. #USOpen
— Stuart Fraser (@stu_fraser) September 2, 2021
Extraordinary scenes on the Louis Armstrong court @usopen where it’s raining heavily….despite the fact there’s a roof!!!! Amid hurricane conditions + the threat of a tornado Kevin Anderson and @dieschwartzman look bewildered as the authorities try to make the court playable 🥴
— Marcus Buckland (@marcus_buckland) September 2, 2021
This is not hard to figure out. Hurricane remnants, rain inside the stadium, lightning, thunder, flood watches, TORNADO WARNING. You cannot continue this match. And good luck to these people getting home @usopen#USOpen#USOpen2021
— Vonessa Ruffin (@VonessaR) September 2, 2021
@usopen Have a conscience for your staff members who have to take public transportation home during a flood watch and potential tornado. You cannot possibly be this greedy for money and ratings.#USOpen2021#tennis@ESPN
— Quirky Anthropologist /She.Her (@chrisannep121) September 2, 2021
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