Naomi Osaka wants to play mixed doubles but is afraid of this

Two-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka has said she wants to start playing mixed doubles but feels she is so bad at doubles that she would embarrass herself.

Naomi Osaka says she wants to play mixed doubles but is afraid of embarrassing herself

Osaka posted an update on her social media account, saying, "I lowkey want to start playing mixed doubles but I’m so bad at doubles I would just say, “sorry 😅😢” and embarrass myself the entire time :("

While, she has not got an immediate response from any of the male pro players on the ATP Tour, retired tennis player Rennae Stubbs did reply, saying she was happy to help find Osaka a doubles partner. "Here’s the thing Naomi. U serve 115mph and the guy poaches or u rip a groundie. Then u return at 90 mph and the guy poaches.... OR u rip another ball and the guy poaches... pretty simple actually. I think i might be able to find u a partner if u want!??"

Osaka also got a response from her Polish youngster Iga Swiatek, who said she was happy to play women's doubles with her, to which the Japanese player responded, "I don’t want you to lose the last grain of respect you have for me though 😩😭"

Here’s the thing Naomi. U serve 115mph and the guy poaches or u rip a groundie. Then u return at 90 mph and the guy poaches.... OR u rip another ball and the guy poaches... pretty simple actually. I think i might be able to find u a partner if u want!??

— Rennae Stubbs (@rennaestubbs) August 11, 2020

If you want you can practise not saying sorry on dubs with me... I don't mind haha😬😇

— Iga Świątek (@iga_swiatek) August 11, 2020

I don’t want you to lose the last grain of respect you have for me though 😩😭 https://t.co/5bcw3ziJ0t

— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) August 11, 2020

Osaka has spoken about how her shy personality has held her back several times, and while she has already won 2 Grand Slam titles in singles, she does not seem very confident about her doubles skills.

22 year old Naomi Osaka has won five titles on the WTA Tour, including two titles at both the Grand Slam and Premier Mandatory levels. Osaka has a mixed background - she was born in Japan to a Haitian father and a Japanese mother, and has lived and trained in the United States since she was three years old.

She won her first two Grand Slam singles titles in back-to-back Grand Slam tournaments at the 2018 US Open and the 2019 Australian Open, making her the first player to do so since Jennifer Capriati in 2001. She has an older sister named Mari who is also a professional tennis player.

Naomi Osaka is also the highest earning female athlete in sports for 2020 as per Forbes magazine, with earnings of over $37 million.

(Picture via the Twitter account of Naomi Osaka)

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3kIQy2z