Naomi Osaka taunted at Indian Wells, reminds her of insults Williams sisters endured

Naomi Osaka, distraught and in tears after a spectator yelled, “Naomi, you suck,” after she had misplaced the primary sport of her second-round match in opposition to Veronika Kudermetova on the BNP Paribas Open Saturday night time, mentioned the taunt had shaken her as a result of it reminded her of racially charged insults that have been directed at Serena and Venus Williams on the similar match in 2001.

Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam singles champion who has been open about her psychological well being struggles and took a break from competitors final 12 months, by no means recovered her poise on Saturday on the Indian Wells Tennis Backyard. Kudermetova received the match, 6-0, 6-4.

Venus and Serena Williams and their father, Richard, have been jeered right here in 2001 after Venus pulled out of the sisters’ scheduled semifinal matchup on the final minute due to a knee damage. The gang booed Serena when she took the courtroom for the ultimate in opposition to Kim Clijsters and booed Venus and Richard after they went to their seats to observe Serena contest the ultimate. Serena didn’t play right here once more till 2015. Venus returned in 2016.

After listening to the shout from a collection in Stadium 1 on Saturday, Osaka requested the chair umpire to be given the microphone to handle the gang. That request was denied. She additionally spoke to a match supervisor after the primary set.

Osaka was allowed to talk after the match. When she did, she paused a number of occasions to assemble her ideas.

“I simply wished to say thanks. I really feel like I’ve cried sufficient on digital camera,” mentioned Osaka, whose father is Black and mom is Japanese.

“To be sincere, I’ve gotten heckled earlier than. It didn’t actually hassle me, but it surely’s like, heckled right here. I’ve watched a video of Venus and Serena getting heckled right here and when you’ve by no means watched it, you must watch it. And I don’t know why, but it surely went into my head and it bought replayed quite a bit.

“I’m making an attempt to not cry. I simply need to say thanks and congratulations [to Kudermetova]. Simply thanks.”