'A Dress Worth a Staggering 250 Million Won': Controversy Over Osaka Naomi's Disruptive Fashion as She Suffers Humiliating Defeat and Early Exit, "So Completely Crushed There Was No Room to Breathe"

*This content was translated by AI.

Osaka Naomi (29, Japan), who had frequently faced criticism for her outrageous fashion shows at every major tournament, ultimately revealed her limits on the court and failed to advance to the US Open quarterfinals.

On the 8th (Korean time), Elena Rybakina decisively defeated Osaka in just 66 minutes at the Louis Armstrong Stadium during the US Open round of 16, securing her spot in the quarterfinals. Osaka, a two-time champion at this tournament, suffered a heavy defeat to Rybakina with a set score of 2-0 (1-6, 4-6).

The match was one-sided. Rybakina quickly took the first set 6-1 in just over 20 minutes after the start. Although Osaka attempted a comeback in the second set and fought tenaciously, Rybakina executed a crucial break in the middle of the set, completely crushing Osaka's momentum. The match concluded within 66 minutes.

According to Britain’s 'Sky Sports', after the match, Rybakina said, "I played very well today. There were moments where luck favored me, such as several line calls, but I am extremely satisfied with my performance." She added, "Naomi is a tough opponent. Regardless of the score, every situation can change in an instant, so I had to focus on every point. I am happy to have played well against such a great player as Naomi."

She continued, "Regaining the world No. 1 ranking is one of my goals. If I can serve well like today, all opportunities will come to me," showing her confidence.

In contrast, Osaka completely collapsed. 'Sky Sports' panelist Laura Robson harshly criticized, "Rybakina's performance was miraculous. The spectators who filled the stadium wanted a long match, but Rybakina silenced them. She had perfect answers to every question Osaka posed." She added, "There was not even a moment for Osaka to catch her breath anywhere on the court."

Thus, Osaka's flamboyant fashion show antics on the court came to an abrupt and futile end. At this tournament, from the first round, Osaka made headlines by wearing a wide tulle skirt that dragged all the way to the floor, a sleeveless hoodie, arm sleeves, and a headband, paying homage to NBA legend Allen Iverson. The hoodie featured designs resembling her career articles being burned, presenting a performance bordering on eccentricity.

Osaka's excessive costume displays have always drawn strong backlash from fellow players. In June at the French Open, she wore a golden dress worth 150,000 dollars (approximately 225 million won) with a skirt dragging on the floor, sparking controversy over special treatment. Her first-round opponent, Laura Siegemund, then said, "I came here to play tennis, not to attend a fashion show." She further criticized, "In a tournament where even the time taken to retrieve a water bottle is calculated in seconds, Osaka received 1 minute and 30 seconds of special treatment to undress and organize her clothes. It is wrong for rules to be applied differently just because she is a top star."

However, off-court attention-seeking and flashy fashion shows did not work at this tournament. After suffering a complete defeat in just over an hour, Osaka quietly packed her bags and exited the major stage. Rybakina, who easily defeated Osaka, will now face China's Zheng Qinwen, who caused a major upset by beating 2022 champion Iga Świątek 2-0, for a spot in the semifinals.

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*This content was translated by AI.