Kolek planning to go pro
Naomi Osaka brought to tears by heckler during loss at Indian Wells...Sad. I feel for this young woman.
Naomi Osaka brought to tears by heckler during loss at Indian Wellshttps://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/03/13/naomi-osaka-indian-wells/?utm_campaign=wp_post_most&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_most&carta-url=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.washingtonpost.com%2Fcar-ln-tr%2F364f580%2F622e11de9d2fda34e7ce760d%2F5f8d147cae7e8a56e5b732a4%2F50%2F70%2F622e11de9d2fda34e7ce760dSad. I feel for this young woman.
I do too - she really seems to be in a bad place right now. From what I saw, the heckler just yelled "You suck!" and the heckler was then jeered by the rest of the crowd, presumably in support of Osaka. That triggered her to want to get on the microphone in the middle of the match, it seems like fall apart during the match, and then be reduced to tears afterward. All that from a pretty lame and one-off heckler. She said that she had gotten deep into the Williams sisters past mistreatment at Indian Wells. It seems like she's in that tough spot where she's kind of meta-afraid of her mental health struggles, and hyper vigilant for the next trigger which basically guarantees she'll find it. Here's hoping she continues to get some help and take the rest she needs.
This is not meant to be overly harsh to Osaka, but I just don’t think she has what it takes, off the court, to be an enduring superstar. She’s an incredible player, a seemingly good person, and can be pretty charismatic/marketable, but there is a thick skin and edge that you need to stay on top and afloat, especially in a cutthroat individual sport. Vile racial heckling or completely inappropriate questioning/inquiries aside, you have to shake off a lot of it or just tune it out, and she’s seemed to really struggle with that over the last few years. It can be learned, and maybe she will, I hope for her sake she does, but you can’t lose it every time someone says you suck or a reporter needles you in a way you don’t love.
Or you know, people could just be decent.
Apparently Ashleigh Barty is retiring from tennis. Pretty shocking, she probably would have won 10 gs titles or more.
Not everyone plays to count slams. She accomplished everything she wanted to do in tennis. She has other personal and professional interests. It isn’t the first time she has left. She previously left tennis for almost two years when she was younger, and she played cricket. She’s getting married and she isn’t interested in spending that much time outside of Australia any time soon.She could always come back down the road after an extended break like Clijsters, or not like Henin. She does what she likes and wants regardless of public opinion, and, she also happens to be one of the nicest people on tour that does a lot for others.Good for her.
"Not everyone plays to count slams". That's because so few people are capable of winning slams. It's a surprising decision for a woman on top of her game and very capable of dominating the sport. Borg burned out at 25 but had 11 gs titles. Of course she can do what she wants and is very well liked, that's irrelevant. That doesn't mean you know her personally or have any idea why she made this decision. I'm not criticizing her at all but the fact is it's surprising, that's all I'm saying.
Clearly she's capable of winning slams, having done it on 3 surfaces. And she's one of 5 players who have finished 3 consecutive years at number 1. She has said why she is making this decison. And yes, I do have personal experience with her.It's difficult for you to understand a top player who doesn't play to count slams. There's a lot more to the sport than that. It wasn't even a thing until Sampras close to breaking the record. There are dozens of Women's players capable of winning slams. 23 different players have won a slam since in the last decade. There are lots of great players.You said it was shocking and the only other thing you added is that she could have gone on to win 10 more slams. I then said not everyone plays to count slams including some that can and do win them. And some have other interests too. She's very self aware.Her style of play, and quality will be missed.She's one of the all time great players. She appears happy.
Boris Becker is going to jail for 2 and 1/2 yearshttps://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10767757/Boris-Becker-sentencing-Tennis-star-jailed-two-years-bankruptcy-offences.html
Uhhhh......Bam? Double Bam?? This Alcaraz kid is coming. He just beat the Djoker after taking out Nadal at the Madrid Open. He turned 19 years old a few days ago.
It’s good to see Carlos Alcaraz put it together after his loss to Sebi Korda recently in Monte Carlo.Ons Jabeur became the first WTA Arab and African player to win a WTA 1000 event.I see he destroyed Zverev. Not a shabby tournament for the young man.Iga Swiatek became the 4th WTA player to win the Sunshine Double. (Indian Wells and Miami)Jess Pegula just missed a top 10 World Ranking by falling in the WTA Madrid Final. 3 American Women in the top 15)She has made the Round of 16 in 10 of her last 11 events. (Only Iga Swiatek (29) has won more WTA 1000 matches the past two years than Pegula (28).Paula Badosa is now ranked number 2 in the world.Taylor Townsend won the singles title in her first tourney since maternity leave.Coco Gauff is ranked in the top 15 in doubles with two different players. Jon Isner won the Sunshine Doubles titles with two different partners.Taylor Fritz won Indian Wells is now ranked 13th in the World.
It isn't just a one off tourney for Alacaraz. He's around to stay at the age of 19.He'll skip Rome for Paris.Drop shot clinic between the two Madrid Title winners Jabeur and Alcaraz.