Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, wiping away tears, said after an upset third-round US Open loss on Friday that she will take an indefinite break from playing tennis.
"I honestly don't know when I'm going to play my next tennis match," Osaka said in a news conference after losing to Canada's Leylah Fernandez.
Wiping away tears, she said, "I think I'm going to take a break from playing for a while."
With that, she put on a face mask, rose from her chair and ended the session.
Canadian teen Leylah Fernandez never stopped believing she could beat Naomi Osaka, not even when the four-time Grand Slam champion was serving for the match, and her determination was rewarded.
Three days before her 19th birthday, the 73rd-ranked daughter of an Ecuadoran father and Filipino-Canadian mother battled back to deliver a stunning 5-7, 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 upset of the world number three from Japan.
"From a very young age, I knew I was able to beat anyone who is in front of me," Fernandez said. "I've always had that belief. I've always tried to use that in every match.
"I guess today that belief came true."
Fernandez, coached by her dad, solved Osaka's serve in the 12th game of the second set as the defending champion was serving for the match.
Instead, Fernandez broke to force a tie-breaker, the rolled to a 5-0 lead while Osaka was slamming her racquet to the court in frustration.
"I was very happy how I played in the first set. In the break I was telling myself to stay positive, keep fighting. 'I'm there. I'm close,'" Fernandez said.
"In the second set, I guess on the very last game I found the solution to the problem of returning her serve. I'm glad I found it."
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