07/27/2021 3:21 AM
Clarín.com
sports
Updated 07/27/2021 3:21 AM
The Olympic women's tennis tournament was left without its two great favorites.
Because the Japanese Naomi Osaka, second seeded,
fell surprisingly before the Czech Marketa Vondrousova 6-1, 6-4
in a match of the round of 16.
The number two in the world was thus joined by the Australian
Ashleigh Barty
, the top candidate, who was eliminated in the debut.
A collection of
32 unforced errors
, against only ten by his rival, put an end to the hopes of the Japanese Olympic team to add Osaka to their list of champions at these Olympic Games.
After spending only two rounds, and with everything in favor to win the gold after the fall of Barty, the Japanese said goodbye to the Games that she herself officially opened by lighting the cauldron at the opening ceremony last Friday.
The game was played under the roof of the central court, closed by the rain.
Photo EFE / EPA / MICHAEL REYNOLDS
Under the roof of the central court of the Ariake Tennis Center, closed by the rain that complicated the normal development of the tennis day,
Osaka played a first set to forget
, with a harmless service.
He gave up six break points and his rival took advantage of three of them.
In the first game of her career against Vondrousova, 22 years old and owner of a single title, the owner of four Grand Slams
could not adapt to the game proposed by her rival either in the second set
.
He found himself with two match points against, which he saved thanks to an incontestable parallel right and a ball that the Czech remained in the net.
But in the third, a shot from the Czech that grazed on the tape dislodged the Japanese, who
sent a cross blow away and sealed her own defeat.
Czech Vondrousova waits for Nadia Podoroska or Paula Badosa.
Photo EFE / EPA / MICHAEL REYNOLDS
Tokyo was Osaka's first tournament since her controversial withdrawal from Roland Garros in May after being fined for refusing to attend press conferences.
The Japanese, who later also resigned from Wimbledon, referred to mental problems without specifying to explain these decisions.
The women's
draw
of the Olympic tournament is now completely open, without its first three favorites: Ashleigh, Osaka and Belarusian
Aryna Sabalenka
, eliminated in the second round.
Vondrousova will face the winner of the match between Argentina's Nadia Podoroska and Spain's Paula Badosa in the quarterfinals, which was delayed by bad weather.
With information from EFE
