Naomi Osaka Faces Backlash: 'Shameful' Behavior After Canadian Open Loss
Naomi Osaka's Cringeworthy Defeat: Tennis Fans Slam Her 'Unsportsmanlike' Behavior
In a shocking turn of events, four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka was left red-faced after her embarrassing loss to 18-year-old Canadian sensation Victoria Mboko in the final of the National Bank Open in Montreal. The crowd was abuzz with excitement as Mboko pulled off an incredible comeback victory, downing Osaka 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 to claim her first WTA Tour title on home soil.
The drama unfolded on Sunday evening, as Mboko, a wild card entry, rallied from a dismal start to take down four Grand Slam winners en route to her historic win. Osaka, who had been the overwhelming favorite, was stunned by Mboko's relentless pressure and struggled to cope with the raucous Canadian crowd, who made no secret of their adoration for the young prodigy.
In a post-match interview that left fans cringing, Osaka delivered a perfunctory speech that only added fuel to the fire. "Thanks, I guess. I don't really want to take up too much time. I'll just say thank you to everyone. Thank you to my team, the ball kids, organizers, and volunteers. I hope you guys had a good night," she said, barely acknowledging Mboko's historic achievement.
But what really got fans' blood boiling was Osaka's subsequent explanation for her lackluster response. "I think Victoria played really well. I completely forgot to congratulate her on the court. Yeah, I mean, she did really amazing, so..." Osaka claimed, trying to pass off her behavior as an honest mistake.
However, many tennis enthusiasts were not buying it, with some even accusing Osaka of being a sore loser. "It's absolutely shameful that Naomi Osaka knows that Victoria Mboko idolizes and looks up to her, and she couldn't even congratulate her or even mention her name," one social media user seethed. "Disgusting, sore loser behavior. She earned a hater in me today."
Another fan echoed similar sentiments: "Of all people, Naomi Osaka should know how to be gracious to a younger opponent during the post-match ceremony. To not even congratulate Victoria in the speech was a bad look." The backlash against Osaka was swift and merciless, with many fans taking to social media to express their disappointment.
But what's really behind Osaka's behavior? Some speculate that her lack of sportsmanship may be linked to her ongoing struggles with mental health. In 2021, she took a highly publicized break from the game citing concerns about her well-being. And in recent months, she has spoken openly about her challenges as a mother and athlete.
Osaka's last win was at the Australian Open in 2021, and since then, she has been struggling to regain her form. Perhaps the pressure of living up to her high standards is taking its toll on her? Whatever the reason, one thing is clear: Osaka's behavior in Montreal was a far cry from the gracious champion we once knew.
Meanwhile, Mboko's stunning upset has sent shockwaves through the tennis world. The 18-year-old Canadian rose from 85th to 25th in the world rankings after her historic win and joined an elite group of players who have won WTA 1000 titles as wild cards. But what makes her achievement even more remarkable is that she's only the third player to achieve this feat, following Maria Sharapova at Cincinnati in 2011 and Bianca Andreescu at Indian Wells in 2019.
As for Osaka, it remains to be seen whether she'll be able to bounce back from this setback. One thing's for sure: she's got some serious work to do if she wants to regain her reputation as a champion with class.
