Winning your first grand slam title should be one of the happiest moments of a player’s career, but for Naomi Osaka it was a bitter experience that continues to haunt her four weeks later.
The world No.6 stunned Serena Williams in straight sets to become the first ever Japanese grand slam champion in the Open Era. Fulfilling predictions by many experts within the sport that she is a rising star on the tour. Whilst Osaka’s win turned heads at Flushing Meadows, it was her opponent that made all the headlines. Williams’ dramatic and tense confrontation with umpire Carlos Ramos resulted in her getting three warnings and later a $17,000 fine. The former world No.1 later caused a massive debate when she claimed that she was unfairly treated because of her gender.
“The memory of the US Open is a little bit bittersweet,” Osaka told reporters at the China Open on Monday.
“Like right after, the day after, I really didn’t want to think about it because it wasn’t necessarily the happiest memory for me. I don’t know. Like, I sort of wanted to move on at that point.”
During the trophy ceremony in New York, the atmosphere was marred by a series of booing. Williams tried to reduce the hostile atmosphere when addressing the crowd as Osaka was seen crying. However, the 20-year-old later said that those tears were due to nerves and nothing else.
Reflecting back on her feelings during the final, Osaka used an ice cream analogy to explain what she went through.
“When you bite into it, it’s sweet but also strong. That’s how that memory feels… of course, I’m happy I won a Grand Slam. I don’t think there’s anything that can take away from that. But I don’t know.” She said.
“I feel like not that when I look back on it that it’s a bad memory, but it was so strange, I didn’t want to think about it. I wanted to push it to the side.”
Destination Singapore
Since the US Open, Osaka has continued to show her talent on the tour. At the Toray Pacific Open in Tokyo she reached the final before falling to Karolina Pliskova in straight sets. She attributed her loss partly to tiredness. Nevertheless, the timing of the tournament was a blessing in disguise for her.
“I was lucky Tokyo was so close [to the US Open] because I could immediately focus on the next tournament,” Osaka said.
“I didn’t think too much about what was going on… so maybe if I did have that time, I’d be overwhelmed… I’m still trying to take my mind off of it.”
Osaka is seeded eight at this week’s China Open. On Monday she kicked off her campaign with a 6-4, 6-3, win over qualifier Zarina Diyas. Setting up a second round meeting with Daniel Collins. The win, combined with the results of other players on Monday, has secured Osaka’s place in her maiden WTA Finals. She is the third player to have qualified for the event after Simona Halep and Caroline Wozniacki.
“Qualifying for the WTA Finals is a huge accomplishment. Winning the WTA Rising Stars Invitational in 2015 helped give me the confidence to play on the big stages so I am excited to go back to Singapore and compete with the top players of the season.” She told wtatennis.com.
