With just a few years into the WTA tour, former world no.1 and four-time major champion Naomi Osaka has managed to carve out a separate brand for herself irrespective of her on-court form. The Japanese player, who started the year on a high by winning the Australian Open, struggled to maintain consistency for the rest of the season.
Adding to her on-court struggle was her off-court controversy at the French Open, where she decided to skip the post-match pressers. This move forced Osaka to walk out of the tournament and rest at home with friends and family to focus on her mental health.
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Nike clothing wear of Naomi Osaka was put on by Andreea Prisacariu at the WTA Transylvania Open
Last year, when Osaka won the US Open in an emphatic manner, popular sports wear brand Nike released a clothing gear under her name.
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At the on-going Transylvania Open, a cropped t-shirt from the Naomi Osaka collection Nike was put on by the upcoming Romanian tennis talent, Andreea Prisacariu.
First WTA main draw match for Andreea Prisacariu! Haideeeeee pic.twitter.com/MDo3VudxNE
— LorenaPopa 🕵️♀️🎾 (@popalorena) October 25, 2021
Prisacariu’s debut at the WTA tour ended up on a losing cause as she bowed down to Lesia Tsurenko in straight sets.
Coming to Osaka’s comeback event, it’s still unclear whether the Japanese player would want to make an entry into any of the remaining WTA tournaments or prepare herself to defend the Australian Open crown next year.
Osaka will most likely skip the rest of the season and prepare to defend the 2022 Australian Open
In a tumultuous year for the Japanese no.1, Osaka witnessed how fame could be a double-edged sword as she faced brutal criticism for her stance on press conferences as fans remain divided over her decision.
Moreover, Osaka’s inability to respond on-court didn’t help her case as she experienced heart-breaking losses at the Cincinnati Open and at the US Open. Especially in New York, Osaka was stunned by a spirited performance from the Canadian prodigy, Leylah Fernandez.
During that third round, Osaka was in complete control over the matchup and appeared to have won it comfortably. But, the Canadian’s resilience in not budging out of the contest proved too much for Naomi Osaka as she lost the match in three sets.
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After a horrendous season this year, it will be interesting to see the strategies Naomi Osaka will implement next year to remain on top of women’s tennis.
Also read: “That Touches You”: Star Rugby Player Pays Homage to Naomi Osaka
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