The moment resonated with nearly every player who has ever picked up a racket, and especially those who have reached the pinnacle of tennis.
A tearful Naomi Osaka sat behind a microphone late on Friday night and spoke of how the sport she has so dominated at times has become a joyless binary journey between relief after victories and sadness following losses. There is no contentment, no happiness.
Then came what may be her last public words for some time.
“I think I’m going to take a break from playing for a while,” she said.
How long is anyone’s guess.