Former world primary Naomi Osaka was delivered to tears by a heckler throughout her 6-0 6-4 defeat by Veronika Kudermetova at Indian Wells.
The four-time Grand Slam winner was taunted within the first set by somebody within the crowd yelling “Naomi, you suck”.
Osaka was taking part in her third occasion since taking a break in September.
Talking on courtroom after the match, an emotional Osaka stated it reminded her of Venus and Serena Williams being heckled on the identical event in 2001.
Whereas holding again tears, Japan’s Osaka stated: “I have been heckled earlier than and it did not actually trouble me.
“However being heckled right here. I’ve watched video of Venus and Serena get heckled right here and should you’ve by no means watched it, you must watch it. And I do not know why, nevertheless it went into my head and acquired replayed so much.”
Osaka’s second-round exit is the earliest she has been knocked out of a event since getting back from an indefinite break that started final 12 months after her US Open title defence ended within the third spherical.
That break was her second of the 12 months, after she withdrew from the French Open amid controversy over her want to not converse to the media after matches, and revealed she has struggled together with her psychological well being since first changing into a Grand Slam champion in 2018.
The 24-year-old additionally missed Wimbledon earlier than returning to the game later in the summertime on the Tokyo Olympics, the place she lit the flame on the opening ceremony.
