NEW YORK: Naomi Osaka will take an indefinite break from tennis. The four-time major winner fell to Canadian teen Leylah Fernandez in a two-hour feature at the US Open on Friday night, shortly after, she announced that she didn’t know when she’d be playing her next match.
The 23-year-old, who took petulant swings at her racket on court, teared up during her post-match interaction. “I’m kind of at this point where I’m trying to figure out what I want to do,” she said.
The Japanese world No.3, who hasn’t played a full schedule for a while, had earlier withdrawn from the French Open and then skipped Wimbledon over mental health issues which she took to social media to express, adding that it was aggravated by the often repetitive drill of speaking to the press after matches.
On Friday, however, she declined a chance to end the press-conference, holding on to say, she was taking a break.
Osaka, who likened herself to a ‘little kid’ when she went after her racket on the court, said, “I was telling myself to be calm, but I feel like maybe there was a boiling point. Normally I like challenges, but recently I feel very anxious when things don't go my way.”
Speaking to the Japanese press, she added, “For me recently, when I win I don't feel happy. I feel more relieved. And then when I lose, I feel very sad. I don't think that’s normal.”
