Kimiko Date hails Naomi Osaka’s achievement
Kimiko Date, the last Japanese player to reach the Australian Open Semi-final spoke about fellow Japanese sensation – Naomi Osaka, who recently overtook this achievement by reaching the finals of the Australian Open.
She was became the first Japanese in history to lift a Grand Slam, when she beat Serena Williams last year at the US Open.
Born in Osaka to a Haitian father and Japanese mother, Osaka has lived in the United States since she was three years old and has fans across the globe.
If she manages winning the Australian Open title by beating Petra Kvitova, she will be crowned the New World No.1.
“Of course it’s good for Japanese tennis. She grew up in the States but everybody is so happy and we support her a lot,” Date told Sport360. “So many people are following. Now I’m working for Wowow TV and so many people are tuning in and watching. Now she’s very famous in Japan.”
With all the success in tennis, Osaka has gained huge popularity and Date is impressed with the way she is handling it. “I think she is under so much pressure but she manages to control it,” said Date.
“She has so much power and speed and now she knows how to play with it, and is patient on court. She has had some good comebacks this week which shows she has improved a lot mentally.”
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from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2CIkeI8
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