Osaka starts strong but slips as Pavlyuchenkova turns tide

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LONDON - No seeding these days, no problem — at least early on. Naomi Osaka, back at Wimbledon without the trappings of a top-ranked player, looked every bit the Grand Slam great for a set on Friday. But the old rhythm ebbed away, and Russias Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova stormed back to win 3-6 6-4 6-4.

Its been more than four years since Osaka last lifted a major — the 2021 Australian Open — a stretch shaped by introspection, a battle with depression, and the birth of her child. And for a while on a sun-drenched Court Two, she summoned her vintage self — painting lines, pummelling serves, playing with purpose in this third round clash.

But after dropping the second set, the momentum slowly slipped through her fingers. A double fault handed Pavlyuchenkova a 2-0 lead in the decider, and Osaka, despite flashes of brilliance, never fully recovered. The errors began to creep in, the confidence to ebb, and the comeback trail was quietly closed off.

No fourth-round debut this year — just a glimpse of what once was. REUTERS