No escape from spotlight for Osaka
KUALA LUMPUR - 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 selfconfessed 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.
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.
The tournament is expected to be marked by the absence of major stars amid heightened pandemic restrictions.