USA Today via Reuters
Sep 3, 2021; Flushing, NY, USA; Naomi Osaka of Japan gestures after missing a shot against Leylah Annie Fernandez of Canada (not pictured) on day five of the 2021 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Sep 3, 2021; Flushing, NY, USA; Naomi Osaka of Japan gestures after missing a shot against Leylah Annie Fernandez of Canada (not pictured) on day five of the 2021 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Naomi Osaka is one of the biggest names in the tennis world. She has, however, had a troubled season since her Australian Open 2021 triumph. Due to which, the Japanese star has suffered a continuous spot-drop in WTA Rankings. Again, as the Pan Pacific Open got cancelled, she dropped her 2019 points and fell further in the world rankings.
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For most of 2020 and the start of 2021, players did not drop 2019 rankings points as a new rankings rule was brought in to combat the impact of coronavirus. However, players have now started to drop the points as the system has reverted to normal.
Recently, Osaka failed to defend her US Open title and lost 1870 points. Additionally, she has now lost 470 points from her Pan Pacific Open win in 2019 as the tournament got cancelled.
Rankings update for Naomi Osaka
Osaka had jumped to World Number 2 after her triumph in Melbourne. However, missing out on French Open and Wimbledon, she lost massive opportunities to earn more points.
Cumulatively, Osaka now has 4326 ranking points and has dropped to the World No.8 position. She dropped three spots after losing points from her home tournament, the Pan Pacific Open.
New WTA Top 10 (points from Osaka 2019 dropping)
1. Barty
2. Sabalenka
3. Pliskova
4. Svitolina
5. Krejcikova (+2)
6. Swiatek (+2)
7. Kenin (-1)
8. Osaka (-3)
9. Muguruza
10. Kvitova— José Morgado (@josemorgado) September 19, 2021
Astonishingly, the 23-year-old lost in the third round at the US Open 2021 to the teenage sensation, Leylah Fernandez. Fernandez became the eventual runner-up of the tournament.
USA Today via Reuters
Sep 3, 2021; Flushing, NY, USA; Leylah Fernandez of Canada, right, shakes hands with Naomi Osaka Osaka of Japan after a third round match on day five of the 2021 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Furthermore, Garbine Muguruza, Petra Kvitova and Belinda Bencic are active on the WTA Tour. Hence, there is a chance that Osaka may fall out of the Top 10. Will Osaka come back and reclaim her lost ranking points?
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Where will Osaka play next?
Unfortunately, the four-time Grand Slam champion announced that she will be taking a break from tennis after her US Open loss. Osaka has been going through a difficult time with her mental health this year.
USA Today via Reuters
Aug 19, 2021; Mason, OH, USA; Naomi Osaka (JPN) reacts during a match against Jil Teichmann (SUI) during the Western and Southern Open at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
Moreover, if Osaka doesn’t return, she might not even qualify for the WTA Finals. However, it’s obviously of primary importance that Osaka takes all the times she needs till she’s ready to return to the Tour.
The Japanese star could make a surprise entry at the Indian Wells tournament in October. Do you think Osaka will play again in 2021?
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