Israeli tennis player Lina Glushko put up an impressive match on Monday against Naomi Osaka in the first round of the Auckland tournament in New Zealand but ultimately lost to the Japanese player 6-4, 6-4, exiting the competition. However, Glushko will likely also remember the game for an unpleasant incident involving pro-Palestinian protesters disrupting the match.
During the game, pro-Palestinian demonstrations outside the court could be heard inside due to the protesters' use of loudspeakers. The match was interrupted twice during the first set as the demonstrators shouted slogans like "Free Palestine" and "Israel out." This incident followed recent online incitement against Glushko in New Zealand, highlighting her past pro-Israel posts.
The match itself was closely contested, with Glushko showing no signs of hesitation. A single break in the second game was enough for Osaka to take the first set. In the second set, Glushko was broken in the third game and broke back in the fourth but Osaka secured another break in the ninth game to clinch the match.
Despite the loss, the Israeli athlete ranked 221 globally has had a promising start to the season, advancing through two qualifying rounds to reach the main draw. Next week, she'll compete in the Australian Open qualifiers for the second time in her career.
Her opponent, 27-year-old Japanese player Osaka, once ranked first in the world and currently ranked 58th and was playing her first match since sustaining a back injury at the China Open in October. Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, won the Australian Open in 2019 and 2021 and the U.S. Open in 2018 and 2020.
She praised Glushko following the match: "I've never played against her before, but she's an amazing competitor."
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In a pre-tournament interview held on Sunday, Osaka reflected on her career, saying, "I don't think I'm the kind of player who would continue if I couldn't meet expectations. I have so much respect for everyone on the tour, but at this point in my life I don't see myself playing long-term if I'm not ranked at a certain level. I'd rather spend time with my daughter if I’m not in the place I believe I should be or can be."