JO: Naomi Osaka, the struck down symbol

Special envoy to Tokyo

To discover

• The full Olympic program

• The Olympic medal table

An earthquake.

That no one had seen coming.

At least not so early in the competition.

After serene successes against the Chinese Saisai Zhang (6-1, 6-4) and the Swiss Viktoria Golubic (--3, 6-2), the Japanese (seeded n ° 2) lost 6-1 , 6-4, this Tuesday in the round of 16, against the Czech Marketa Vondrousova (42nd world).

Naomi Osaka, the face of the Tokyo Olympics

Caught by the throat in the 1st set, the Japanese lost her entry serve and was quickly led 4-0.

She then took a long time to come to her senses.

In the second round, the world n ° 2 made the entry break, led 2-0 before seeing the Czech back on her heels (service lost on a double fault, illustrating her feverishness).

Returned to 2-2, the Czech did not give up.

Naomi Osaka dismissed two match points before giving in and disappearing.

Head down.

She was living her big comeback on the courts after her hasty departure from Roland-Garros and benefited from a special light after being chosen as the face of these Olympics.

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Naomi Osaka TIZIANA FABI / AFP

Symbol of diversity, of modernity, she had lit the Olympic cauldron. The slow, respectful climb of the stairs had made it a highlight. His personality, his stance, his international successes made him an essential figure. And for the first time, tennis had the great honor of being the sport that kindles the flame. In its wake and with the presence of Novak Djokovic, tennis had been able to forget the cascade of forfeits. Naomi Osaka was pushed out of her tournament this Tuesday. An earthquake in the tennis event. Cathy Freeman had in 2000 in Sydney managed to digest the emotion of being the last bearer of the flame before running irons gold. Not Naomi Osaka who left the arena, her eyes dark.