Naomi Osaka says she is “more inclined not to play” at Wimbledon again because the WTA and ATP have said they will not give ranking points this year after the All England Club banned players from Russia and Belarus due to the Ukraine attack.
The four-time Grand Slam champion and former World No. 1 left Wimbledon in 2021 as part of a mental health break following his withdrawal from Roland-Garros.
After losing the first round at Roland-Garros on Monday night, Osaka said the move to retain a ranking point on the tennis tour from Wimbledon “affects my mood” and he was “not 100 percent sure I’m going to get there.”
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He described himself as “a player who is inspired by the rise of my rankings”, but added that he would have to think twice before making a final decision.
Osaka lost its opening match to Amanda Anisimova 6-5, 6-4 to Suzanne Langlen on Roland-Garros Court.
The 20-year-old Anisimova reached the Ronald-Garros semifinals in 2019, where she lost to last-placed Ash Barty. He lost to Osaka in the third round of the Australian Open in January.
Twice double-fault at Osaka break point, once in each set. After the second, which gave Anisimova a 4-3 lead, Osaka took a 40-0 lead in the next game, but the Americans held on.
Osaka played with tape on his left Achilles. He was stretching it and kicking with his right foot when it broke in the seventh game of the second set.
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