Topline
Tennis star Naomi Osaka was knocked out of the 2022 Australian Open on Friday after losing her third-round match to unseeded American Amanda Anisimova, a shocking early exit that will see the defending champion miss out on a marquee fourth-round clash with World No. 1 and home favorite Ash Barty.
Key Facts
Anisimova pulled off the upset win in three sets with a scoreline of 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (10-5) and she will now face tournament favorite Ash Barty in the fourth round.
Osaka, who had not played in a competitive event since her third-round exit in the U.S. Open last year, acknowledged that she was not at her best and noted that the pace of the American shots surprised her.
Osaka’s early exit from the Australian Open and her temporary break from the sport last year means that her ranking will now fall outside the top 50 from her current rank of 14.
Crucial Quote
“I know there are days I’m going to have bad days and days I’m going to have great days. It’s always random, and I never know. But no matter what happens for me, I know I want to leave the court knowing that I’ve fought for every point,” Osaka said in a press conference after the game.
Big Number
$57.3 million. That’s the amount Osaka earned last year, making her the highest-paid female athlete of 2021, according to Forbes.
Key Background
After winning her fourth grand slam title in Melbourne last year—her second Australian Open crown in three years—Osaka withdrew from the French Open in the second round and then skipped Wimbledon as she took a break to tend to her mental health. She returned to top-flight competition at the Tokyo Olympics, but an early exit from the global event and the U.S. Open were followed by an extended layoff to reset for the 2022 season. Osaka was seeded number 13 for year’s first major event, but was seen as one of the favorites for the title.
Further Reading
Naomi Osaka Is Out at Australian Open (New York Times)
Anisimova upsets defending champion Osaka at Australian Open (Associated Press)
