Tennis 2022: Naomi Osaka brought to tears after being heckled at Indian Wells, Veronika Kudermetova
2 min read
Naomi Osaka was brought to tears by a heckler in an ugly incident during her second round loss at Indian Wells.
Naomi Osaka has been brought to tears by a heckler in an ugly incident during her second round match against Veronika Kudermetova at Indian Wells.
The Japanese star stopped play during the second game of the first set to approach the chair umpire asking them to do something about a person who was shouting at her.
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Multiple reports indicate the person screamed out “Naomi, you suck”. The umpire said nothing could be done because she didn’t know who the culprit in the crowd was.
Tennis reporter Ben Rothenberg tweeted: “Rough, strange scenes on Indian Wells Stadium.
“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.”
A clearly rattled Osaka was in tears as she prepared to serve her next game and proceeded to lose the first set 6-0.
She then spoke to the court supervisor and while most of their conversation was inaudible on the broadcast, the supervisor told the umpire: “If it happens again, we’re going to find him.”
Osaka played on and lifted her level in a high-quality second set but Kudermetova, one of the most in-form players of the season, closed out the set 6-4 to seal victory.
Osaka congratulated the Russian and remarkably addressed the crowd on court after the match.
An emotional Osaka explained the heckling brought back memories of the infamous incident at Indian Wells in 2001 when Serena Williams was booed during a match.
The ugly episode involved accusations of racism and allegations Williams’ father Richard fixed the results of matches between Serena and Venus Williams.
The two sisters subsequently boycotted Indian Wells for 14 years until Serena returned to the event in 2015.
Osaka told the crowd: “You should watch the video (of the Serena Williams incident).”
The four-time grand slam champion has been open about her battles with “long bouts of depression”, which she said started at the US Open in 2018, when she defeated Serena Williams in the final.
Osaka pulled out of last year’s French Open over her decision to boycott media press conferences. She also missed last year’s Wimbledon but has since returned to the tour.
