Naomi Osaka cries over coach split controversy after Dubai defeat as Asia’s first world No 1 shrinks in the spotlight
- Japanese star loses first match since shock split from coach Sascha Bajin after Australian Open win
- The 21-year-old says ‘I feel like people are staring at me, and not in a good way’ as pressure mounts
A tearful Naomi Osaka said the pressure of being world No 1 and the intense media spotlight caused by her sudden split from former coach Sascha Bajin contributed to her losing her first match since winning the Australian Open.
The 21-year-old was dumped out of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in her opening match on Tuesday, losing 6-3, 6-3 to France’s Kristina Mladenovic in the second round after receiving a first-round bye.
“It’s a little bit hard because I feel like people are staring at me, and not in a good way,” the Japanese-Haitian said in a post-match press conference.
Osaka – the first Asian male or female to top the rankings – had drafted in Japan Tennis Association coach Masashi Yoshikawa to work with her in Dubai but he was unable to inspire her as she capitulated in just over an hour.
WTA Coach of the Year Bajin had also guided Osaka to her maiden grand slam at the US Open, having joined her team at the start of 2018 when she was No 72 in the WTA rankings.
But the German was unceremoniously dismissed last week after speculation of a rift in Melbourne, and Osaka said before the tournament in the UAE she wasn’t willing to risk her happiness for the sake of her success.
“This match is the result of that,” Osaka said of her coaching situation. “I’m pretty sure as time goes on you guys will stop talking about it. For now, it’s like the biggest tennis news, I guess.”
Osaka made 25 unforced errors and won less than half of her first serve points, and just five of 27 second-serve points – or 19 per cent.
She was also broken seven of the nine times she served, against an opponent who had not yet won a match in 2019.
And she was wiping away tears with a smile as she opened up on the difficulties of dealing with her new-found fame, having become the new face of women’s tennis almost overnight when she shocked Serena Williams in the Flushing Meadows final last September.
“I don’t think I necessarily understand what position I’m in, in a way,” said Osaka, whom big-name brands are rushing to sponsor, especially in her native Japan.
“And because last year I wasn’t even anywhere close to this ranking and people didn’t pay attention to me and that’s something that I’m comfortable with.
“I don’t know why I’m crying. I don’t know why this is happening. I don’t really like the attention, so yeah, it’s been a little tough.”
Osaka will head to the BNP Paribas Open as the defending champion – it was at Indian Wells where she won her first title, with Bajin by her side.
“I‘m not really sure [how I’ll feel] because I’ve never been a defending champion,” she said.
“Hopefully, I remember all the good times that I’ve had there, somehow start feeling better about myself.”
Her No 1 ranking is safe for now but Osaka admitted she hasn’t been practising well recently.
“I just thought it would go away during the matches. I was kind of counting on that. That didn’t happen,” she said.
“I mean, the Australian Open was not even a month ago. This was just one match. I feel like even if I don’t win any matches for the rest of the year, I wouldn’t say I’m concerned. I think I’m pretty young. I still feel like I have a lot to learn.”
