Naomi Osaka had a rather nasty experience at this US Open. The Japanese sensation was meant to have big chances to defend her 2020 title. Instead, she fell as early as in the third round at the hands of an inspired Leylah Annie Fernandez. To make things even more difficult, Naomi Osaka also had the opportunity to serve out the match in the second set.
The press conference
Naomi Osaka is well-known for struggling to cope with the disappointment of losing matches. The world number 3 participated in the press conference that followed her match against the young Canadian.
“This is very hard to articulate. 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. Yeah. I think I’m going to take a break from playing for a while.”
Naomi Osaka in 2021
Ranked world no.3, Naomi played her last match on the 3rd of September when she lost to world no.73 Leylah Annie Fernandez 5-7 7-6(2) 6-4 in the 3rd round in U.S. Open (draw).
During this season Naomi owns a composed 18-6 record. Naomi clinched 1 title at the Australian Open.
Fernandez at the U.S. Open, ranking, and results in 2021
Now ranked no.73, Leylah Annie has a composed 20-15 record in 2021. Leylah Annie is currently having a run at the U.S. Open where she bested Ana Konjuh 7-63 6-2, Kaia Kanepi 7-5 7-5 and Naomi Osaka 5-7 7-62 6-4.
Leylah Annie Fernandez will play the world no.17 Angelique Kerber in the 4th round. They have never played each other up to now on the main tour.
The Canadian has won 1 title in 2021 in Monterrey.
Naomi Osaka and Leylah Annie Fernandez squared off just once. Their head to head is 1-0 for Fernandez. When they played, Leylah Annie Fernandez won 5-7 7-6(2) 6-4 in the 3rd round in New York (U.S. Open) on the 3rd of September 2021.
In the following video you can watch the key moments of their match.
