Indian Wells: Naomi Osaka reduced to tears by heckler; irks well-wishers
By Team Newsable | First Published Mar 13, 2022, 4:00 PM ISTFormer world number one Naomi Osaka was brought to tears by a heckler during her 6-0 6-4 defeat by Veronika Kudermetova at Indian Wells on Saturday.
Former world number one Naomi Osaka, who confessed to suffering from depression last year, was brought to tears by a heckler during her 6-0 6-4 defeat by Veronika Kudermetova at Indian Wells on Saturday. The four-time Grand Slam winner was taunted in the first set by someone in the crowd yelling, "Naomi, you suck".
Speaking on court after the loss, an emotional Osaka said being heckled by a spectator reminded her of the verbal abuse the William sisters were subjected to at the same tournament in 2001. Osaka was playing her third event since taking a break in September.
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While holding back tears, the Japanese tennis star said, "I've been heckled before, and it didn't really bother me. But being heckled here. I've watched the video of Venus and Serena getting heckled here, and if you've never watched it, you should watch it. And I don't know why, but it went into my head and got replayed a lot."
Naomi Osaka asked for the microphone after her loss against Veronika Kudermetova. Here's what she said. pic.twitter.com/0Pj9WnNe4t
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter)Venus pulled out of a semi-final clash against her sister with a knee injury, and when she and her father Richard Williams took their seats to watch Serena's final against Kim Clijsters, the crowd jeered. Serena was also subjected to boos throughout the game.
The legendary siblings' father, Richard Williams, claimed he had been racially abused, while Venus Williams said she "heard whatever he heard". Serena, who went on to win the title, boycotted the competition for 14 years before making her Indian Wells return in 2015.
In an interview in 2021, the American said she was still traumatised by the incident two decades later. "Even when I went back 14 years later, it was very traumatising," Williams said in an interview with Will Smith for "Red Table Talk".
"Talk about post-traumatic stress and mental anxiety. I remember sitting in the bathroom thinking, 'Wait, I'm not gonna go back. I just don't think I should do this. What if they start booing again?' It was really hard for me," Serena added.
Meanwhile, following Osaka's defeat and insult by the crowd, well-wishers of the tennis star took to Twitter to voice their opinion, with a few even demanding that bullying of athletes must stop.
One user said, "Stop bullying black women in sports. Y'all tried it with the Williams sisters. Now with her. None of their haters can hold a candle to them or Naomi Osaka. Stop bullying this talented young lady... it's tasteless."
Reminding people of Osaka's struggles with mental health, another user said, "F**k anyone that thinks it's okay to heckle Naomi Osaka or any other person, especially one that is struggling with mental health and while trying to do their job."
Here's a look at some of the other reactions of Twitter:
F**k anyone that thinks it’s okay to heckle Naomi Osaka or any other person, especially one that is struggling with mental health and while trying to do their job. https://t.co/fZfEYZ6Omy
— Mr. Grimmace (Jason Hintz) (@mrgrimmace)To the Fox News, shut up and dribble, all lives matter, woke, MAGA, let’s go Brandon and to the let’s not focus on mental health crowd. Please and kindly shut the fuck up. Naomi Osaka is human and she is more than just an athlete and is right to speak up about mental health.
— Phillip Newsome (@PhilNewsome)Stop bullying black women in sports. Y’all tried it with the Williams sisters. Now with her. None of their haters can hold a candle to them or Naomi Osaka. Stop bullying this talented young lady.. it’s tasteless 😡
— I N D O E (@loveindoe)To the bitch who yelled at Naomi Osaka “Naomi you suck” when it was dead silent, making her cry, may you step on a thousand Lego’s and have ingrown toenails. You fucking bitch.
— 𝒞 (@claudiforniaaa)The Naomi Osaka situation overnight in Indian Wells is just incredibly sad. A brilliant athlete who has battled against anxiety and depression being heckled that she 'sucks' - be better, people
— Nathan Salt (@NathSalt1)I just wanna hug you , sending you love ❤️ & tight hugs🤗 Naomi. You are awesome & a trailblazing tennis 🎾 player. Your fans, followers know your work, your journey- please don’t let that negativity effect u in anyway. Love 💕 you pic.twitter.com/w8yK0rbP53
— Ruchi Angrish (She/Her) (@RuchiAngrish)Someone in the crowd yesterday yelled “Naomi, you suck.” on the way to a 6-0, 6-4 loss to Veronika Kudermetova in the Indian Wells WTA hardcourt tournament. Naomi Osaka was brought to tears. I hope the person is found and punished for acting in us manner!
— Bhadoosky𓃵 (@BhadmusAkeem)The thing that got Naomi Osaka upset, was not just the fact that the "fan' was heckling..That fan was being ALLOWED to repeatedly heckle and no one did anything about it. Naomi had to ask the officials could the heckler be removed.
This is how systematic white supremacy works
What the fuck is wrong with people at sporting events?! Naomi Osaka is NOT your friend or peer, do not speak to her or ANY athlete. Pay your ticket, sit the fuck down and enjoy the match. These goofy ass people are too bold. FOH.
— Acquah Dansoh 🌊🌊🌊 (@AcquahDansoh)Naomi Osaka is human. The problem we have as black women is that we're not allowed to be weak. Give us the same energy you'd give anybody yelling "you suck" to a lily white girl🙄.
— Proud BLACK Woman✊🏾👸🏾✌🏾💓 (@KMarieTimez)People who aren't even at the top of their fields in their mediocre professions that require zero dedication are calling Naomi Osaka, who literally has 7 titles mentally weak.
— Otsumami Boy 🍻 (@OtsumamiBoy)Naomi Osaka doesn’t owe anyone a damn thing. She’s a human first and foremost and an athlete second. Just because she’s in the big leagues does not give ANYONE the license to comment on how she “should” be dealing with shitty people. Fuck that.
— Jason (@_unicorn_person)That was really heartbreaking to see Naomi Osaka cry on the tennis court just now. She’s gone through so much the past year with her mental health and wanting to take a break from tennis. I have nothing but love and respect for her
— Lets talk sports with Phillip Newsome (@LTSWPN)Naomi Osaka deserves the world. Air the bitch out who yelled at her
— ingrid💆🏻♀️ (@ingridflz)Osaka's second-round exit at Indian Wells is the earliest she has been knocked out of a tournament since returning from an indefinite break that began last year after her US Open title defence ended in the third round.
That break was her second of the year, after she withdrew from the French Open amid controversy over her wish not to speak to the media after matches, and revealed she has struggled with her mental health since first becoming a Grand Slam champion in 2018.
The 24-year-old also missed Wimbledon before returning to the sport later in the summer at the Tokyo Olympics, where she lit the flame at the opening ceremony.
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