Naomi Osaka brought to tears by heckler during loss at Indian Wells

Washington Post ^ | 03/13/2022 | Cindy Boren

[simpson96]

Heckled by a spectator during her BNP Paribas Open match Saturday, Naomi Osaka tearfully took the unusual step of addressing fans from the court, telling them that the experience reminded her of the harassment faced by Serena and Venus Williams years ago in the Indian Wells event.

Osaka had lost the first game of her second-round match against Veronika Kudermetova when an unidentified fan yelled, “Naomi, you suck” in an uncommon breach of decorum for tennis spectators. She fought for composure on the court and asked the chair umpire, “can I borrow your microphone,” to address the crowd mid-match. Asked by the umpire what she wanted to say, she replied, “I just want to say something,” Osaka replied. “I’m not going to curse. I don’t curse. It’s just weighing on my heart.”

How Seniors End ‘Bone-On-Bone” Knee Troubles (Works Fast) The request was denied and after her 6-0, 6-4 loss, Osaka did take the mic to speak to fans. Wiping away tears, she said, “I feel like I’ve cried enough on camera.

“... I’ve gotten heckled before, and it didn’t really bother me, but, like, heckled here? I watched a video of Venus and Serena getting heckled here, and if you’ve never watched it, you should watch it.

“And I don’t know why, but it went into my head, and it got replayed a lot. I just wanted to say thank you and congratulations [to her opponent]. Thank you.”(snip)

Unseeded in Indian Wells, Osaka has dropped from No. 1 in the world to 78th. The fan was not identified or ejected, and the crowd had been supportive of the 24-year-old. But her comments showed that the Williams sisters’ experience in the California tournament in 2001 lingers.

[StAnDeliver]

I just like the idea of Kali liberals shaming a nut job.

[StAnDeliver]

"I also have a theory. Naomi has a habit of suddenly withdrawing from tournaments, “injuries”, “taking breaks” from her career, saying not sure she will return, She has refused mandatory after match interviews, I think Naomi’s mental illness is that she has a big DRUG ADDICTION problem and I also think the USTA knows it and is on the coverup, referring to it as a mental thing. The long break she took was actually a secret suspension for drug usage."

Maybe? My theory is that her management told her in no uncertain terms, that if she wanted to play the 3 remaining Slams, she needed to get out there and make a run at BNP Paribas.

She didn't want to go to Indian Wells, so read the freakout as strictly passive-aggressive child-like rebelling against her management. She has Jennifer Capriati squared or even cubed written all over her.

[dfwgator]

She certainly withdrew early from the Tokyo Olympics after she lit the torch.

Why did the Japanese allow her to be the one to light the flame?

[Getready]

Maybe the heckler was her coach, or ex-agent.

[vladimir998]

“Good thing there’s no heckling on FR!”

It builds character!

“How ya beeen, vlad?”

I’m still alive. Can’t say much more than that. How about you? I hope all is well with you and yours.

[ealgeone]

Still kicking! Other than some knee frustration not too bad.

Miss our debates on the RF. Those were fun.

[dfwgator]

The way people treated her after she beat one of the idolized Williams sisters was disgusting.

But she saved all of her venom for white people, go figure.

[Tallguy]

Fake racial hate crime? Fan not identified or ejected? Microphone stunt? She thought of that on-the-spot?

[Cronos]

Hecklers in tennis is a no no. Not a question of “suck it up”.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

People have been heckling in tennis since the seventies.

Yes, it is a question of "suck it up".