Photo: Susan Mullane/Camerawork USA, Inc
Naomi Osaka takes Centre Stage SHREYA CHAKRAVERTTY
I
n 2014, at the Bank of the West Classic tour event in California, a shy sixteen-year-old HaitianAmerican-Japanese tennis player espies her idol from afar but is too shy to approach her for a chat. They are both competitors at the tournament, playing for the same prize, but their worlds are so far apart that any possibility of collision seems like a distant possibility. She agonizes about a possible meeting, then about the fact that the American may get to know about her fandom and consider it ‘creepy’, but eventually gets a keepsake: a selfie with her. That particular WTA tournament
was, in a sense, a first look at Osaka’s potential—and her monster forehand. The latter played a starring role in the 406-ranked player’s win over Tour veteran and former US Open champion Samantha Stosur— ranked No. 19 at the time—achieved after saving a match point, no less. It was also her first appearance in a WTA main draw, gained after coming through the qualifiers. These facts did make many take note of her as one to watch out for even back then, but it’s her 6-2, 6-4 2018 US Open victory against 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena that will be the headlining act for some time to come.
Unfortunately, it was under extremely unsavoury circumstances, and led to copious tears being spilled from Osaka’s eyes during the presentation ceremony, prompting Serena to reprimand the crowd. A questionable line call, an unclear code violation, and a raging former champion spewing invective—you couldn’t make this stuff up. At one of the umpteen interviews lined up for the new young Slam winner, Osaka made it clear that witnessing her idol’s fury in the heat of the moment hadn’t taken away any of the adoration. ‘Serena told me some stuff and I hugged her . . . I
Advantage Tennis Grand Slam Yearbook 2019
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