Osaka beaten by Navarro as Gauff goes through

Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka paid the price for too many mistakes as she lost in straight sets to No. 19 seed Emma Navarro.

The 26-year-old, playing at Wimbledon for the first time in five years, was beaten 6-4, 6-1 in the second round.

The loss means Osaka has yet to advance beyond the third round at Wimbledon after four attempts.

Osaka, who competed as a wildcard following the birth of her first child last year, missed the 2022 tournament with an injury and took breaks from the sport in 2021 to deal with mental health issues.

She cruised through a tight match with world number 53 Diane Parry of France on Monday but lost on Centre Court to American Navarro, who made just five unforced errors compared to Osaka’s 16.

Four missed shots in the seventh game allowed her a break at love and Osaka was denied an immediate break chance when Navarro successfully challenged what appeared to have been a winner from the Japanese.

The second set began with Osaka hitting a forehand long when she had the court open, and then followed it up with a weak volley into the net with her opponent stranded and Navarro broke immediately.

Two more breaks of serve for Navarro hastened the end after just 59 minutes and allowed her to face the Russian Diana Shnaider.

“I didn’t have full confidence in myself. I didn’t feel like I was playing very well,” Osaka said.

I guess those doubts started to filter into my game. Obviously, the second set wasn’t as good.”

Gauff is “passionate” but tennis is “not that serious”

Earlier, Coco Gauff defeated Romanian qualifier Anca Todoni to advance to the third round of Wimbledon.

The second-ranked player entertained the indoor crowd on Court One with big hits to claim a 6-2 6-1 victory in 66 minutes.

Gauff next plays Britain’s Sonay Kartal, who claimed the biggest win of her career by beating France’s Clara Burel later on Wednesday.

A second convincing win this week marks American Gauff’s progress in SW19 after a surprise exit in the opening round last year.

“Overall, I learned a lot about life. I guess that happens as you get older,” the 20-year-old said.

“I realized that what I do, yes, I am passionate about it, but it is not that serious and sometimes the world can make you feel like there is a lot of pressure, a lot of expectations.

“At the end of the day, it’s a game, it’s a sport and I’m very privileged to be able to play here.”

Todoni, 19, came into Wednesday’s match after a dominant victory, and her first Grand Slam win, over fellow qualifier Olga Danilovic of Serbia.

But she faced a tougher opponent: US Open winner Gauff, who is among the favourites to go all the way at Wimbledon.

After losing his serve early, Todoni was unable to capitalize on any opportunities to get his serve back.

From there, the task was arduous for Todoni, who had difficulty absorbing Gauff’s powerful shots and won only three points on her opponent’s serve.

American 11th seed Danielle Collins came back to complete a 6-3 7-6 (7-4) win over Denmark’s Clara Tauson after their match was halted on Tuesday night due to fading light and a slippery surface.

Ukraine’s 21st seed Elina Svitolina beat Poland’s Magda Linette with a hard-fought 7-5, 6-7 (9-11), 6-3 victory.

Canadian Bianca Andreescu, the 2019 US Open champion who has been plagued by injuries ever since, eliminated Czech Linda Noskova, seeded 26th, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5).

Andreescu will next face Italian seventh seed Jasmine Paolini, who defeated Greet Minnen 7-6 (7-5) 6-2.

Sloane Stephens, who won the US Open two years before Andreescu, lost 6-1, 6-1 to Diana Shnaider.