“I should be like that too” Injured Naomi Osaka refuses to retire mid-match drawing inspiration from Michael Jordan’s ‘Flu Game’
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Naomi Osaka, Michael Jordan during the famous 'Flu Game'
4-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka‘s return to Tour was short-lived as she was defeated in the second round of the 2022 Madrid Open by local girl Sara Sorribes Tormo. Sara won the match 6-3, 6-1 to advance into the Round of 16 while Naomi continues to find good results on Clay which has been her weakest surface.
After a runner-up finish in the 2022 Miami Open on 2nd April, Naomi remained absent from the claycourt events and played directly in Madrid as she looks to get herself ready for the 2022 French Open, the biggest claycourt event. Having announced her mental health issues at last year’s French Open, Naomi will be looking to make a good run as she looks to move back into the Top-10 being currently ranked 36th in the world.
Osaka took the court against Sara with bands on her leg already hinting that she might be having some difficulties with her movement. It was later revealed that she had pain in her Achilles after her round 1 victory but decided to push through it and not give up easily by taking a pre-match or mid-match retirement.
She told in the press conference that she took inspiration from basketball great Michael Jordan‘s performance in the 5th Game of the 1997 NBA Finals when he was down with food poisoning yet turned up for the game and contributed 38 points to Chicago Bulls’ victory against the Utah Jazz. The game has since been more famously called the ‘Flu Game‘ and Naomi took a big note of it.
“For me, honestly, I don’t want to, like, retire because of injury again in my career. Because you know, like sometimes I think about the Michael Jordan ‘Flu Game’, I’m like, ‘I should be like that too’. There is always, like, caution in your mind, but for me, I want to see what happens if I push through it. I want to know the type of – it’s not relief – but like the feeling that I would have if I were to ever be injured quite badly and still be able to push through the match.
“Honestly, I have had it before, like maybe two years ago I think after Miami or something. But I can’t imagine that it will be a huge problem unless something significant happens, but I think for right now, just learning how to move forward with everything,” said Osaka further informing that she will be taking scans to get further details and treat it quickly.
Naomi Osaka likely to play in Rome
With Naomi not showing signs of high distress, it is safe to believe that she will play at next week’s 2022 Italian Open in Rome, another WTA-1000 event. With an early exit, Naomi now gets a week’s time to recoup, treat her injury and be ready for the trip to Italy where she will look to get maximum practice as the event in Rome ends on 15th May and the 2022 French Open begins on 22nd May in Paris.
Also Read: “Your eyes got super big” Naomi Osaka announces big news ahead of the 2022 Wimbledon
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Sarthak Shitole
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