In her long-awaited return to grand slam tennis, Japan’s Naomi Osaka proved why she’s a fan favourite with this classy gesture.
Naomi Osaka proved once again why she’s a fan favourite with a heartfelt gesture for a young fan during her long-awaited return to grand slam tennis.
After withdrawing from this year’s French Open and Wimbledon tournaments, Osaka got her US Open campaign underway on Tuesday AEST with a first-round victory over Czech star Marie Bouzkova at New York’s Arthur Ashe Stadium.
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Following the match, Osaka showed her class by gifting a young girl a small memento – an Olympic pin she acquired in Tokyo.
“I just heard her while I was playing my match, and she was so cute,” Osaka explained.
“Thank you for cheering me on!
“In the Olympics we got little pins that we were supposed to pass around to other players, and I wasn’t there for a long time so I have a couple in my bag leftover.
“I thought it would be a nice little memory.”
Osaka lit the cauldron at the Olympics Opening Ceremony last month, but suffered a shock third-round exit in Tokyo after losing to Marketa Vondrousova in straight sets.
The 23-year-old won last year’s US Open title, albeit without fans who were banned due to Covid-19 regulations.
“It felt quite lonely for me,” she said. “So I’m quite glad to see little kids in the audience and grown ups too. The energy here is unmatched.
“It feels kind of crazy to play in front of everyone again. I feel really comfortable here. I’m just glad I won.”
Seeking a third US Open crown in four years, Osaka stretched her grand slam win streak to 16 matches by defeating 87th-ranked Bouzkova in straight sets 6-4, 6-1.
Osaka broke Bouzkova in the 10th game of first set when the Czech netted a backhand, then broke for a 2-0 lead in the second set on the way to victory in 93 minutes.
She had defeated Bouzkova in their only prior meeting; the first round of this year’s Australian Open on the way to her fourth Grand Slam title.
Osaka could become the first back-to-back US Open women’s champion since Serena Williams, out this year with a torn hamstring, won her third in a row in 2014.
She will face Serbian qualifier Olga Danilovic in the second round.
– with AFP
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