
Australian Open: Jessica Pegula falls in quarterfinals but won’t ‘sulk around’
Instead, she'll set her sights on the doubles bracket.
Naomi Osaka is considering taking a step back from tennis after her three-set loss to Leylah Fernandez in the third round at the US Open.
Osaka struggled to find her rhythm throughout the match, falling to Fernandez 5-7, 7-6 (2), 6-4, breaking the Canadian teen only once throughout their contest.
Leylah Fernandez, folks!@leylahfernandez | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/IVjxcZj3Kh
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 4, 2021
Following Friday’s defeat, Osaka told reporters in an emotional press conference that she plans to take a break from the sport.
“I feel like for me recently, like, when I win, I don’t feel happy,” said Osaka, adding, “I feel more like a relief. And then when I lose, I feel very sad. I don’t think that’s normal.”
Osaka hasn’t had much time on the court this season, stepping away from tennis after the French Open, citing her mental health.
“Basically I feel like I’m kind of at this point where I’m trying to figure out what I want to do, and I honestly don’t know when I’m going to play my next tennis match,” said Osaka.
“I think I’m going to take a break from playing for a while.”
Osaka’s ouster, Fernandez, will play No. 17 Angelique Kerber in the US Open’s Round of 16 after Kerber knocked out Sloane Stephens.
Instead, she'll set her sights on the doubles bracket.
Pegula is the last American woman standing.
Both lost in straight sets.
Gauff won in straight sets.
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