Martina Navratilova won Wimbledon 9 times in singles, 7 in doubles, 4 in mixed, thanks to her fantastic tennis and passion for the sport. The Tennis Legend was completely unimpressed with Naomi Osaka considering Wimbledon an exhibition after the ATP and WTA decided not to award their points this year.
Why Wimbledon had its points stripped away
The Championships decided unilaterally to ban Russian and Belorussian players from its competition this year after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The ATP and WTA consider this position discriminatory and therefore decided not to award their points to the event, at least for this year.
During a recent press conference, Naomi Osaka said that without points, Wimbledon is an exhibition and she was not sure she would compete.
Navratilova vs. Naomi Osaka
Interviewed by Piers Morgan, Martina Navratilova didn’t hide her disappointment for Naomi’s words to say:
“I don’t understand that view that players wouldn’t play because there were no points. So, are you playing for a computer ranking? I just wanted to hold that trophy – the Venus Rosewater Dish. I would like to sit down with her and tell her about the history of Wimbledon.”
Naomi Osaka in 2022
Now the world no.38, Naomi played her last match on the 23rd of May when she capitulated to world no.28 Amanda Anisimova 7-5 6-4 in the 1st round in French Open (draw).
This season Osaka owns a compiled 12-5 record. Naomi Osaka’s most significant result of this year was reaching the final in Miami.
Naomi Osaka |
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