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Why world number one Osaka cried after losing in Dubai

Dubai - Naomi Osaka believes Tuesday's defeat is going to make her a better player

It was only over five months ago that the world was taken aback by Naomi Osaka's ability to keep a cool head in the heat of a New York cauldron.
But on Tuesday night, the 20-year-old Japanese was in tears after crashing out to Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship.
Osaka couldn't hold back the tears in front of a handful of journalists on Tuesday night after her shock second round defeat to Mladenovic in Dubai - her first tournament since splitting with her coach Sascha Bajin.
Playing her first match since becoming the first Asian to be ranked world number one, Osaka was a shadow of the player that dismantled Serena in New York and overcame Petra Kvitova in a Melbourne epic.
Osaka was hurt by the lack of sting in her groundstrokes and that strong serve deserted her when she needed it the most to earn cheap points against an inspired rival.
As she entered the press conference room to face the media, the tennis journalists were reminded by the tears that rolled down Osaka's cheeks that they were dealing with someone who was still only 21.
"I don't know why I'm crying. I don't know why this is happening," Osaka said before she posed to collect her thoughts.
"I don't think I necessarily understand what position I'm in, because last year I wasn't even anywhere close to this (number one) ranking. People didn't pay attention to me."
Osaka's ranking was hovering over 70 when Bajin was hired as her coach. It was a triumphant journey for both with two Grand Slams and the number one ranking.
Naturally, her decision to end the highly successful partnership baffled the tennis world. And Osaka admitted that she hasn't been able to deal with the media scrutiny over the split.
"I mean, I couldn't. That's the result. This match is the result of that," she said referring to her Dubai defeat.
"You guys -- no offence to you guys -- but I'm pretty sure as time goes on you guys will stop talking about it. For now, it's like the biggest tennis news, I guess.
"See, it's a little bit hard because I feel like people are staring at me, and not like in a good way!"
But Osaka believes Tuesday's defeat is going to make her a better player.
"There's no one that really thinks losing is fun. But for me, I've always been taught that when you lose, you learn more than when you win," she said.
"I try to take that as a really important advice because I think it is true."
rituraj@khaleejtimes.com