Like gymnast Simone Biles named "
Athlete of the Year
" for Time magazine, Naomi Osaka was one of the outstanding athletes of 2021. The Japanese, last bearer of the flame had the honor of set the cauldron of the Tokyo Olympics on fire. A first for tennis. To revive. She had fled Roland-Garros (before her second round) to put the circuit on hold, give priority to her well-being, invoking an anxiety that gnawed at her. Then had in a letter on the cover of Time launched: "
It's OK not to be OK
" And to ensure: "
I hope that people can identify themselves and understand that it is normal not to go well and that it is normal to talk about it.
There is usually light at the end of each tunnel. »
To discover
Australian Open: men's schedule and results
Australian Open: ladies schedule and results
At 24, the 14th in the world has already experienced everything on the circuit.
Light and the other side of the coin.
The titles (including 4 Grand Slams: the Australian Open 2019 and 2021; the US Open 2018 and 2020).
And the disappointments (like during the last US Open, exit by the Canadian Leylah Fernandez in the 3rd round, after a premature elimination against the Czech Marketa Vondrousova in the 3rd round of the Olympic tournament which was close to her heart, in Tokyo).
Phenomenon Naomi Osaka is the highest-paid female athlete in the world, according to a list published by business magazine Forbes (ahead of Serena Williams with 45.9 million and her sister Venus with 11.3 million, Simone Biles with $10.1 million and Garbine Muguruza with $8.8 million). The Japanese has, according to Reuters, pocketed $57.3 million, almost all of which comes from a portfolio of sponsorship deals that has grown to more than 10 partner brands over the past 18 months.
Eagerly awaited for her recovery but suffering from an abdominal injury, Naomi Osaka retired before the semi-final at the Melbourne preparation tournament ("
my body received a shock from playing two intense matches in a row after the break I took
,” she tweeted).
She may lack benchmarks when diving back into a Grand Slam tournament.
In the first round of the Australian Open, she will face Colombian Camila Osorio (53rd in the world).
Further, could wait the world n°1 Ashleigh Barty who dreams of the title on her lands…