Naomi Osaka to take indefinite break from tennis after US Open implosion

Naomi Osaka has suggested she will take an indefinite break from tennis after she was knocked out of the US Open by a teenager.

Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka will take an indefinite break from tennis after she was knocked out of the US Open third round against Canadian teenager Leylah Fernandez.

It was a stunning comeback from the 18-year-old World No. 73 who came back from Osaka serving for the match to claim a 5-7 7-6 6-4 victory.

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An emotional Osaka told reporters after the match: “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.”

Ahead of the 2021 US Open, Osaka promised to readjust her mindset and celebrate her many accomplishments, saying can no longer “burden” herself with the expectations of others.

The four-time Grand Slam winner dropped out at Roland Garros after skipping post-match interviews with reporters, saying it caused her mental health distress.

When she was fined and warned future similar violations could bring greater punishments, Osaka withdrew from the tournament and skipped Wimbledon as well, her actions raising global awareness of the mental challenges facing world-class athletes.

Naomi Osaka is out of the US Open. Photo: Elsa/Getty Images/AFP

The New York crowd cheered on Fernandez despite Osaka being a favourite having won two US Open titles in the past.

Osaka first broke at 5-all in the first set and did the same in the second, looking to claim a straight sets victory.

But she couldn’t capitalise when she was serving for the match in the second as Fernandez broke back before dominating the tie-breaker 7-2.

It wasn’t all she lost however as Osaka lost her composure.

She threw her racquet twice, tapped it on the ground once and screamed after missing another point.

At the end of the second set she left the court and went to the bathroom — although for nowhere near as long as Stefanos Tsitsipas’ breaks.

“The crowd got right behind Fernandez late in the set. Osaka lost her composure; we know she’s been struggling with her mental health. Will she leave the court? She is leaving the court. Wow, what a turnaround,” ESPN’s commentary said.

The commentators pointed out that Osaka has struggled against left handed players with Fernandez pulling off the stunning comeback victory.

Fans were quick to react to Osaka’s tantrum late in the second set.

UPSET!

Defending champion Naomi Osaka loses to 18-year old Canadian Leylah Fernandez 5-7, 7-6, 6-4.

Wow. #USOpen 

pic.twitter.com/F5lHD7Ycfq

— Ryan Field (@RyanFieldABC) September 4, 2021

Osaka melting down. Hate to see it. Just kidding!

— Joe Gabriel Simonson (@SaysSimonson) September 4, 2021

Naomi Osaka, who didn’t face a break point till serving for the match, plays an horrendous tiebreak and has to play a decider vs. Fernandez. 7-5, 6-7(2). Racket paid the price multiple times… pic.twitter.com/PJPnsnXWrn

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) September 4, 2021

Osaka imploding on Arthur Ashe.

Twice she's thrown her racquet in the second-set tie-break BUT no warning or code violation.

Talk about a lack of consistency. Penny for @NickKyrgios' thoughts...#USOpen

— Sacha Pisani (@Sachk0) September 4, 2021

Osaka unglued is wild.

— Patrick J. Sauer (@pjsauer) September 4, 2021

What a performance for Leylah Fernandez. Photo by Elsa/Getty Images

Fernandez couldn’t wipe the smile off her face after romping home to win.

“I wanted to stay on the court a little longer and I wanted to put on a show for everybody here,” she said. “One hour was just not enough for me on court.”

Asked when she had the belief she could win, Fernandez said: “From the very beginning, right before the match, I knew I could win.”

She also refused to discuss Osaka’s frustration throughout the match.

“Honestly I wasn’t focusing on Naomi,” she said. “I was only focusing on myself and what I needed to do.”

The vocal crowd even booed Osaka late in the match after seemingly taking too much time to face up to a serve for the crowd's liking.

The commentators agreed “Osaka probably felt like the crowd was against her for the first time in this tournament”.

It's like they don't remember Osaka getting booed during the trophy presentation and Serena having to console her. #USOpen

— Allen McDuffee (@AllenMcDuffee) September 4, 2021

Fernandez will play 16th seed Angelique Kerber in the round of 16.