As one among Japan’s greatest gold medal prospects, Naomi Osaka can hope to shine within the limelight at some stage in her keep on the Tokyo Olympics.
However, there’s a main drawback with that state of affairs. The soft-spoken and self-confessed introvert does not notably like being within the highlight – so how she copes with the extraordinary stress and all of the fanfare that undoubtedly surrounds her whereas she competes in a home Olympics stays to be seen. is.
The 23-year-old has received a Grand Slam title yearly since 2018 and has been praised for his charming character and outspokenness on points akin to police brutality and racial inequality.
But Osaka has additionally been open about her struggles with despair and anxiousness. She withdrew from this yr’s French Open amid controversy over her resolution to skip all press conferences on the match to guard her psychological well being.
The stress will solely be stronger with Osaka’s Olympic debut in Tokyo, the place she is predicted to not solely function the Games ambassador, but in addition win Japan’s first gold medal in tennis.
The occasion is being performed on laborious courts, the identical floor the place Osaka received all 4 of its majors, however might face stiff competitors from top-ranked Australian Ash Barty or Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka. In the lads’s sport, Osaka’s compatriot Kei Nishikori, who received bronze on the 2016 Rio Olympics, will look to hit dwelling after a number of struggles with damage.
Nishikori may very well be joined by world primary Novak Djokovic and 20-time Men’s Slam champion Roger Federer, each nonetheless in search of their first gold in singles – the one main honor nonetheless lacking from their collections.
Britain’s 2012 and 2016 Olympic champion Andy Murray want to grow to be the primary participant to win singles gold thrice, though his kind is in query after an extended hiatus as a consequence of damage.
The match is predicted to be marked by the absence of main stars amid the pandemic restrictions.
Sisters Serena and Venus Williams, who’ve 4 gold medals every, is not going to compete, whereas Monica Puig, who received Puerto Rico’s first gold in Rio, withdrew from shoulder surgical procedure.
Spain’s two-time gold medalist Rafa Nadal has additionally pulled out together with US Open champion Dominic Thiem, Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka and Romania’s Simona Halep.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
