Naomi Osaka exits French Open in first round, may skip Wimbledon

Naomi Osaka lost in the French Open first round, then said she may skip Wimbledon after the WTA and ATP tours announced last week they will not award ranking points because Wimbledon is barring Russia and Belarus players.

“I didn’t even make my decision yet, but I’m leaning more towards not playing given the current circumstances, but, you know, that might change,” Osaka said in an English answer to a question in Japanese that media on site reported to be about Wimbledon. “I’m not sure why, but I feel like if I play Wimbledon without points, it’s more like an exhibition. I know this isn’t true, right? But my brain just like feels that way. Whenever I think like something is like an exhibition, I just can’t go at it 100%.”

Osaka, a four-time major champion on hard courts, made the comments after losing 7-5, 6-4 to 27th-seeded American Amanda Anisimova in the marquee first-round match at Roland Garros.

Also Monday, defending champion Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic was upset by 97th-ranked Frenchwoman Diane Perry 1-6, 6-2, 6-3. Krejcikova, an unseeded champion last year, was playing her first match since February due to an elbow injury.

No. 1 Iga Swiatek of Poland throttled Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko 6-2, 6-0 in 54 minutes for a 29th consecutive match win, the longest women’s streak in nine years.

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Osaka, unseeded after taking two breaks last year, struggled with her serve — eight double faults, first-serve percentage of 45 — and had 29 unforced errors to 13 winners.

On Wimbledon, Osaka said she expects more “back and forth” regarding the ranking points situation before she makes her final decision. The tournament starts June 27.

She also said she’s “a bit scared” about