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Miami Open: Naomi Osaka’s Fans Band Together to Bash Martina Navratilova for Her Blunt Take Few Months Ago

Published 03/23/2024, 10:43 PM EDT

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The Naomi Osaka comeback continues as she ousted Elena Svitolina in straight sets. Earlier this year, the Japanese tennis star made her return to the sport, and since then, has been trying to have a successful event. But after months of making a first-round exit at the Australian Open, she is doing well at the Miami Open, making it to the third round of the event.

However, during the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, Martina Navratilova gave a brutal assessment of the four-time Grand Slam Champion’s return to the tennis world. However, now that she has been fighting well, tennis fans turned the other way around and slammed the 59-time Grand Slam champion herself for her early assessment.

Tennis fans slam Martina Navratilova for her months-old comment on Naomi Osaka

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It all started when, in a conversation with the tennis channel during the Australian Open, the Czech-American was asked about her take on Osaka’s comeback. She expressed her disappointment with the Japanese tennis player stepping on the court before being in shape. But now that after a month of her return, she has finally started with a good run at the Miami Open, defeating Elina Svitolina in a thrilling encounter.

Navratilova stated, “Tennis-wise, it was maybe a B-plus performance. But overall a C, because she couldn’t get to the ball that she wants to hit because she is not in shape. I am surprised that she started playing, that she got on the tour that she played this tournament without clearly being in the tip-top shape she needs to be in order to put herself in the position to hit the big, big balls.”

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Looking into how things have changed, tennis fans went back to Tennis Channel’s tweet from the Australian Open to slam the 67-year-old tennis legend’s comments against Naomi. A fan highlighted how, being a woman herself, the 59-time Grand Slam champion criticized another woman at quite an early stage of her comeback.

On the other hand, another fan dwelled out how she has not forgotten how there was a time when Navratilova compared the four-time Grand Slam Champion’s comeback with her second-round opponent.

Subsequently, a social media user shared her feelings regarding how she was happy to see that Favorite had finally proved all the doubters wrong.

Not only that, but another highlighted how she will never forget this moment.

Moreover, a fan shared a video of her silently laughing over the incident.

Not only that, after the second-round victory in a press conference, she also talked about the goals that she is looking forward to with her returns and her rise at the Miami Open. Let’s take a look at what the four-time Grand Slam champion has to say about getting better and doing better on the court.

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Osaka’s goals moving forward at the Miami Open

In a conversation after the victory, Naomi Osaka shared her goals regarding what she was looking to do in the upcoming months as a tennis player. She said, “My biggest goal moving forward …. woo! Obviously, I want to win tournaments, but I know I have to take it one step at a time. Just winning matches. The more matches I win, the more comfortable I’ll be … and hopefully that will lead to holding something above my head one day.”

With high expectations due to her remarkable record as a four-time Grand Slam champion, Osaka made her eagerly awaited comeback at the beginning of 2024. Even though she had a dismal 5-5 record going into the Miami Open, she had shown glimmers of the formidable ability that had once catapulted her to the top of the tennis world. It’s interesting to note that Osaka’s incredible comeback is reminiscent of Svitolina’s victorious comeback, having returned to the spotlight on the tour just eight months after giving birth.

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Nevertheless, what are your thoughts on Osaka’s comeback? Do let us know in the comment section below.

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Written by:

Pratishtha Prakash

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Pratishtha Prakash, tennis writer and resident analyst at EssentiallySports isn't just a sports journalist; she's a storyteller who found her true calling in tennis content. It is something she seamlessly integrates into both her professional and personal realms. Having professional certifications in content and digital marketing, Pratishtha has made it a habit to hone her skills as a quality journalist.
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Edited by:

Jayant Chhabra