Japan's Darling Suffers Stunning Defeat

Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic beats Naomi Osaka
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jul 27, 2021 12:09 AM CDT
Updated Jul 27, 2021 1:44 AM CDT
Naomi Osaka Loses: Tennis Megastar Eliminated From Olympics
Naomi Osaka, of Japan, reacts after losing a point to Marketa Vondrousova, of the Czech Republic, during the third round of the tennis competition at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan.   (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

The host country’s superstar is out of the Tokyo Olympics. Naomi Osaka lost to former French Open finalist Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic 6-1, 6-4 in the third round of the Tokyo tennis tournament on Tuesday, the AP reports. The second-ranked Osaka, who was born in Japan and grew up in the United States, struggled with her usually reliable groundstrokes.

The 42nd-ranked Vondrousova produced a series of drop-shot winners and other crafty shots that drew Osaka out of her comfort zone. Osaka won her opening two matches in straight sets following a two-month mental-health break. But conditions were different Tuesday with the roof closed because it was raining outside.

(More Naomi Osaka stories.)

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