“People Compared My Sister and Me To Venus and Serena”: Naomi Osaka

In recent years, Naomi Osaka is arguably the most successful women’s tennis player. She has an elder sister named Mari. Naomi was introduced to tennis by her father, who had little knowledge of the game himself. He often drew inspiration from the story of the William sisters and tried to replicate the role which their father had on them.

In 2018, she reached her first-ever grand slam final at the US Open. She was up against one of the toughest challenges in life, to play her childhood idol, Serena Williams, in her backyard.

Being unfazed by the drama and controversy that was going on, the youngster got the better of Williams in straight sets, 6-2 6-4. 

Recently, while giving an interview Naomi said “As a kid, I was pretty lazy. I’m still kind of lazy right now. I was always chasing my sister. A lot of people compared us to Venus and Serena.”

Having picked up the tennis racket for the first time at the tender age of 3 years, she said “I started tennis when I was 3. Personally, for me, I didn’t feel I would be doing anything else. By the age of 7, I thought I would be a professional tennis player because that was the only life I knew.”

“Of course, there were tons of thoughts in my mind, maybe I want to do something else, like a Zoologist or something. That was always the second choice.”

Also Read: WATCH: The Emotional Reaction of Roger Federer’s Host Family During Wimbledon 2003

Naomi Osaka: Icon of Our Sport

As a person in general, the Japanese typhoon comes across as a shy person. She often applauds an opponent’s winner. When she had beaten youngster Coco Gauff, she made her way towards a crying Gauff and was seen consoling her.

There is no question regarding her professionalism and she surely comes across as a ‘role model’ who can influence millions of youngsters. She is the highest-earning female athlete in our sport and is one of the most marketable athletes in the world. 

Over the past three years, the former World No.1 has managed to win one major in each of the years. She pulled out of the French Open due to a hamstring injury. She eyes her return at the Australian Open in 2021.