LONDON: Naomi Osaka was on the verge of securing her best run at Wimbledon before being edged out 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, in a roller-coaster clash by Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
The four-time Grand Slam champion clinched the opening set and had a duo of break points to break for a 5-4 lead in the second but failed to convert those chances. Osaka fought throughout the two-hour encounter but was unable to find a way to see off Pavlyuchenkova, who reached the quarter-finals at SW19 back in 2016. In the end, it was back-to-back forehand unforced errors from the former world No.1 that granted victory to her opponent.
“I guess it was ok, she just won a couple of the break points that I couldn’t convert,” a disappointed Osaka reflected during her press conference.
Osaka was bidding to reach the fourth round at Wimbledon for the first time in her career at the age of 27. She was playing in the tournament for only the second time since 2020 due to a combination of factors – the pandemic, maternity leave and injury. Furthermore, if she had won, it would have been the first time she had recorded three straight main draw wins at a grass court tournament since the 2018 Nottingham Open.
Tournaments which are not played on hardcourts are an Achilles’ heel for Osaka. Like Wimbledon, she is yet to reach the fourth round at the French Open, too. In contrast, she is a two-time champion at both the Australian Open and the US Open.
“In Paris (this year) I was very emotional,” said Osaka, who lost to Paola Badosa at Roland Garros.
“Now I don’t feel anything, so I guess I’d prefer to feel nothing than everything.
One positive for Osaka was that her run in Wimbledon was only the second time she had made it through to the third round of a major since giving birth to her first child.
“I think my relationship with grass has improved, even though I felt I wanted to do better results-wise. I think with each tournament, I learned a little bit more,” she acknowledges.
Osaka will next head to North America for the hardcourt swing, where she will be eager to get back on track.
As for Pavlyuchenkova, who will turn 35 in July, she credits her mental toughness for edging out Osaka. She is currently playing in her 65th Grand Slam main draw.
“It was a very tough match in general. I felt like I was behind for the majority of the match, so I played point-by-point,” said Pavlychenkova.
“It’s actually very slow out there but maybe that helped today. I’m incredibly happy because I was mentally tough in the three matches that I have won.
“I’m usually not so good on grass. The majority of you were cheering for Naomi but it’s OK. I’m mentally tough.”
