No escape from spotlight for Osaka at Tokyo Games
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[July 02, 2021]
By Rozanna Latiff
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - As one of
Japan's best gold medal prospects, Naomi Osaka can expect the
spotlight to shine brightly on her for the duration of her stay at
the Tokyo Olympics.
There is, however, one big problem with that scenario. The soft
spoken and self-confessed introvert does not particularly like being
in the spotlight - hence how she copes with the intense pressure and
all the fanfare that will no doubt surround her while she competes
at a home Olympics remains to be seen.
The 23-year-old has won a Grand Slam title every year since 2018 and
gained accolades for her engaging personality and forthrightness on
issues such as police brutality and racial inequality.
But Osaka has also been open about her struggles with depression and
anxiety. She withdrew from this year's French Open amid controversy
over her decision to skip all press conferences at the tournament to
protect her mental health.
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The pressure will only grow stronger as Osaka makes her Olympic
debut in Tokyo, where she is expected to serve not only as the
Games' ambassador but also shoulder hopes of winning Japan's
first-ever gold medal in tennis.
The event is being played on hard court, the same surface where
Osaka won all four of her majors, but she could face stiff
competition from top-ranked Australian Ash Barty or big-hitting
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus.
In the men's game, Osaka's compatriot Kei Nishikori, who won the
bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, will similarly look to make a
splash at home after several struggles with injury.
Nishikori could be joined by world number one Novak Djokovic and
20-time men's slam champion Roger Federer, both of whom are still
searching for their maiden gold in singles - the only major honour
still missing from their collections.
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![](../images/070221pics/sports23.jpg)
Japan's Naomi Osaka in action during her
first-round match against Romania's Patricia Maria Tig
REUTERS/Christian Hartmann/File Photo
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Britain's 2012 and 2016 Olympic
champion Andy Murray will look to become the first player to win
singles gold three times, though his form remains in question after
a long hiatus due to injury.
The tournament is expected to be marked by the absence of major
stars amid heightened pandemic restrictions.
Sisters Serena and Venus Williams, who have four gold medals each,
will not be competing, while Monica Puig, who won Puerto Rico's
first-ever gold in Rio, withdrew after undergoing shoulder surgery.
Spain's two-time gold medalist Rafa Nadal has also pulled out, along
with U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem, Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka,
and Simona Halep of Romania.
(Reporting by Rozanna Latiff, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
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