During her previous press conference, Naomi Osaka said that she is in a rather good space right now after her 2021 was badly affected by depression and mental health issues.
However, Naomi looked uncharacteristically upset during her 2nd round match against Veronika Kudermetova. Naomi was in tears and during a change over an official had to intervene to understand what was going on.
Fortunately, Naomi had nothing major, but it was still surprising to learn that she got very upset after a fan shouted: “Naomi, you suck!”
The Japanese sensation lost the first set 6-0 before finding her groove. Eventually, she capitulated 6-0 6-4.
This is what she said after the match.
Confirmed from a couple people that the woman in the stadium shouted “Naomi, you suck!”, not something directed at Kudermetova (or Russia) after all.
Osaka considerably rattled by it, there’s an official out talking to her on this changeover as she’s down 0-3.
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) March 13, 2022
Osaka in Indian Wells, ranking, and results in 2022
At the moment ranked no.78, Naomi has managed to achieve an overall 6-1 win-loss record in 2022. Osaka is currently competing in Indian Wells where she overcame Sloane Stephens 3-6 6-1 6-2.
Naomi Osaka will take on the world no.24 Veronika Kudermetova in the 2nd round on Saturday at 8:00 pm on STADIUM 1. In the past, they have never competed against each other till now on the main tour.
Naomi won 7 titles in her career: all of them conquered on hard courts. (See the list of her titles)
Veronika Kudermetova in 2022
LWLLLLWLWW Now the world no.24 (career-high), the Russian played her last match on the 21st of February when she surrendered to world no.69 Arantxa Rus 7-6(5) 6-4 in the 1st round in Doha (draw).
This season Kudermetova has managed to achieve a compiled 8-5 record. Veronika Kudermetova’s best performance of the current year was getting to the final in Melbourne and Dubai.
Naomi Osaka and Veronika Kudermetova have never played each other.
