This was Osaka’s first tournament since withdrawing from the French Open, citing the need to take a break for her mental health. Her focus now will turn to defending her U.S. Open title later this summer, but in many ways, her entire year had been built around trying to win a gold medal in Tokyo.
Now that dream is gone, opening up the field reminiscent of the 2016 Olympics when longshot Monica Puig took gold.
American surfer Carissa Moore will compete for an Olympic gold medal Tuesday after winning her semifinals heat.
Moore, a four-time world champion, defeated Amuro Tsuzuki of Japan by a thin margin.
She will face South Africa’s Bianca Buitendag, who defeated American Caroline Marks in the other semifinals heat.
The top-ranked women’s surfer in the world, Moore, 28, entered the competition as the favorite.
Earlier in the day, she won her quarterfinals heat against Silvana Lima of Brazil.
American surfer Caroline Marks will compete for an Olympic bronze medal Tuesday after coming up short in her semifinals heat.
Marks, 19, lost to Bianca Buitendag of South Africa at Tsurigasaki Surfing Beach.
Marks, a native of Florida, will face the loser of the semifinals heat between fellow American Carissa Moore, a four-time world champion, and Amuro Tsuzuki of Japan.
Earlier in the day, Marks won her quarterfinals heat against Brisa Hennessy of Costa Rica.
She beat U.S. teammate Lilly King, who was chasing her second consecutive Olympic gold medal in the breast.
Jacoby won in 1:04.95 followed by Tatjana Schoenmaker from South Africa and King, who took bronze.
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