By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday July 26, 2021
Naomi Osaka briefly talked to reporters in the Olympic mixed zone, before leaving in tears.
According to French journalist Quentin Moynet (of L’equipe), the Japanese star said: "I should be used to the pressure, but it's stronger because of the break I took. At least I'm glad I didn't lose in the first round."
Moynet said that Osaka broke down in tears and could not respond to the next question.
In his (translated) words:
“Caught up in emotion, Osaka did not answer the last question and left the mixed zone in tears,” he tweeted in French.
Osaka's comments were reported by British site Metro.UK as well.
"I definitely feel like there was a lot of pressure for this," she said. ‘"I think it’s maybe because I haven’t played in the Olympics before and for the first year it was a bit much."
She continued: "I think I’m glad with how I played, with taking that break that I had. I’ve taken long breaks before and I’ve managed to do well. ... "I’m not saying that I did bad right now, but I do know that my expectations were a lot higher. I feel like my attitude wasn’t that great because I don’t really know how to cope with that pressure so that’s the best that I could have done in this situation."
Osaka also stopped by the Olympic Channel’s interview podium and briefly took a question about the conditions.
She was asked about playing three matches in three days in tough conditions (though her match on Tuesday was played indoors), and if that had played into her struggles during her round of 16 loss to Marketa Vondrousova on Tuesday in Tokyo.
“Honestly I don’t think it really mattered,” she said of the heat. “For me I’m the type of person that really likes the heat, so I would say that everyone played in the same conditions so it didn’t really matter that much.”