Naomi Osaka was eliminated from the Olympics Games after losing her Tokyo tennis tournament match 6-1, 6-4 in the third round to Czech Marketa Vondrousova on Tuesday.
Of note: Japan's Osaka is the women's world No. 2, while is Vondrousova ranked No.42.
Combined images of Osaka and Vondrousova in action during their round three Tokyo Olympic Games match. Photo: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
What they're saying: Osaka said after the game: "I'm disappointed in every loss, but I feel like this one sucks more than the others."
- Vondrousova paid tribute to Osaka, telling reporters: "It's tough for her also playing in Japan and in the Olympics. It's so much pressure, I cannot imagine."
The big picture: This was Osaka's first Games, and she described the honor of lighting the Olympic cauldron to formally kick off the event as "undoubtedly the greatest athletic achievement and honor I will ever have in my life."
- Osaka, who was born in Japan and grew up in the U.S., won her first two Tokyo Games matches after returning to tennis following a mental health break.
- Her withdrawals from the French Open and Wimbledon Grand Slam tournaments triggered global conversations about mental health in sports.
Go deeper: Full Axios Olympics coverage
Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.
