Being at the Olympics is the highlight of many athletes' careers, and they train four years in advance for that big moment, but it wasn't so for Naomi Osaka last year. The Tokyo 2020 (pushed back to 2021 because of Covid-19) took its toll on her mental health, and she flunked out of the challenge on round 3.
Now that she's back, Naomi attributes her failure to "unhappiness," though she plans to enjoy the game this time around.
Tokyo 2020 Loss
Naomi Osaka was the favorite to win in 2021 and was the torchbearer for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, but she lost 6-1 6-4. At the women's singles, the 24-year-old lost three straight sets to Czech Republic's Marketa Vondrousova. Despite her four-time success at the Grand Slam, she performed poorly at the Olympics, causing a lot of chatter.
Sports experts said her eight weeks break prior made her rusty. If she'd been active in competitions before the Olympics, her morale boost would've been through the roof. However, Naomi gave a different reason – "there was a deep sense of sadness for not having more fun for the time I was there."
The Message
With the ongoing Beijing Olympics, the 24-year-old Japanese Tennis player found herself reminiscing over her missed opportunity last year. While she has regrets, she's hopeful for the future.
"So the other day I was reflecting on the Olympics, I don’t know if it was because the Winter Olympics are going on now but something had me reminiscing about the time I had. I realized that I had regrets about the whole experience, (not the torch lighting though that was 🔥 literally)… Can’t believe I was at the Olympics in Tokyo and I failed to consistently find the immense joy in that. I think that’s gonna be really important in my life going forward, just enjoying the experiences and making the most out of the time no matter how short or long it is lol. Anyways hope you guys are doing well and staying safe, I’m sure I’ll see you around ☺️❤️👍🏾"Supportive Messages From ColleaguesNaomi received more encouraging messages along the lines of "keep your head up" and enjoy your sport.
"Always inspiring is what you do ❤️🔥"– Venus Williams
"Finding the joy is what makes the adventure so great. ❤️"– Lindsey Vonn
Vanessa Bryant dropped four heart emojis in the comment section.
Return To The Indian Wells
The Indian Wells gave Naomi her first major win in competitive tennis playing, and she expects the magic to tarry this year. Though her rating is no longer World's No. 1, the 24-year-old doesn't mind working her way up again.
"To return to the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, the place I won my first big event, it's special. It was special in 2018 and it will be special again this March." ]]>The Inquisitr
