Naomi Osaka: 'Serena Williams is the main reason I started playing tennis'
In an interview with the Miami Herald, Naomi Osaka commented about Serena Williams's influence on her. The Japanese player feels a lot of admiration for the American, who she beat both at the last year's Miami Open and US Open. "She’s the main reason why I started playing tennis, and I have seen her on TV so many times and I have always been cheering for her, so for me to play against her and just sort of trying to detach myself a little bit from thinking that I’m playing against her and just try to think I’m playing against just a regular opponent was a little bit hard for me", said Osaka.
On her trip to Haiti, the world No. 1 added: “It was really one of the warmest welcomes I’ve ever had, if not the warmest. For me it meant a lot because it’s my Dad’s motherland, and I’ve been to Japan so many times but I haven’t really been to Haiti as much, so just to see everyone being so kind and welcoming was really incredible and humbling. Even from the first time, I went there, there’s this newfound appreciation for everything. You take water for granted, hot water, things people there don’t have access to. Just the little things that you don’t really appreciate. It was really eye-opening and helped me with my mind when I’m playing. It helped me be grateful that I’m even on the court, that I’m not injured, having the opportunity to play the matches. There’s a new appreciation for every point I get to play. Little things I used to complain about definitely are not a big deal to me anymore. Even if I lose, I realize this isn’t the worst thing that could happen to me.”
Haas revealed how he managed to hold the match: "We started making some calls and Novak was willing to come over. Pete was here for the (Milos) Raonic and Thiem match, and John is in town because he is making an announcement with BNP Paribas tomorrow. They all just said, 'How can I help?' And that shows what incredible people they are."
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2THNvOp
No comments