Wimbledon 2019: Naomi Osaka stunned by Yulia Putintseva in first round

  • Posted: Jul 01, 2019
Wimbledon 2019 on the BBC
Venue: All England Club Dates: 1-14 July
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Second seed Naomi Osaka has been dumped out of Wimbledon in the first round, losing 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 to Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan.

Japan’s Osaka, the US and Australian Open champion, has suffered a dip in form in recent months and struggled throughout her match on Centre Court.

She was 3-1 up before she was broken back and edged out in the tie-break.

Osaka was then broken in the fifth and seventh games, before her 38th unforced error gave the world number 39 victory.

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“That’s amazing,” said 24-year-old Putintseva, who also defeated Osaka at the grass-court event in Birmingham in June.

“I had never been on that court – I did a good job out there. I’m very happy now.

“Every match is a battle, but you never know what’s going to happen. I was hoping I would do my best.

“Every year I feel better on grass, although I think clay is my better surface.”

The Kazakh will now face Swiss world number 81 Viktorija Golubic in the second round.

In the build-up to her opening match, Osaka said she had struggled with the “stress and pressure” of being world number one, which she earned by beating Petra Kvitova in Melbourne in January to win her second successive major.

Since that victory, she has only reached one semi-final and also lost her top ranking to French Open winner Ashleigh Barty.

On Monday, aside from the numerous unforced errors, luck also deserted the Japanese player when Putintseva’s mis-hit backhand caught the edge of the line and earned her a break for 3-2 in the second set.

Osaka wasted an opportunity to break back when she fired a straightforward volley wide as her opponent grew in confidence and closed out the set.

She now has two months to put things right before her defence of her US Open title.

‘Osaka has to go back to the drawing board’ – analysis

Tracy Austin, two-time Grand Slam champion on BBC TV

Putintseva had a clear gameplan not to give Osaka any rhythm – nothing was at the same height. Osaka had a chance to get a break back [at 3-2 in the second set], but she looked nervous and was over hitting.

Putintseva stuck with the gameplan and so many players are able to get the set lead but not then able to hold on to it. Osaka has to go back to the drawing board. Everyone was putting her in the mix to win this tournament and she does not look comfortable.

She’s one of the biggest stars in the world but so shy, and when the spotlight is on you it is overwhelming.

John McEnroe, three-time Wimbledon singles champion on BBC TV

I don’t think Naomi is very comfortable on grass. You need that intensity and be on it. She just does not look like she’s all there.

She’s distracted. A lot of things have happened and it seems she has lost her confidence, which is amazing from where she was two or three months ago.

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