Naomi Osaka is heading into the US Open as a genuine contender once again, having seemingly recaptured her form at the Canadian Open.
It has felt like so long since the four-time Grand Slam champion had put together a string of victories in one event, and it was so refreshing to see her back close to her best.
Her movement was sharp, and her groundstrokes were as brutal as we had become accustomed to.
Only the unstoppable force that was Victoria Mboko halted her in her path, completing her fairytale run to the Canadian Open title.
Sadly, it was what happened after that which really stole the headlines, as Osaka’s post-match speech about Mboko sparked huge controversy.
Naomi Osaka admits she felt ‘terrible’ and ‘shame’ after Canadian Open final
Asked about that dreaded final, where both her play and post-match conduct drew scrutiny, Naomi Osaka was as open and honest as she always is.
The Japanese tennis star first noted, speaking about the media reaction to her speech: “Honestly, I, um… I’m trying to word it so I don’t get caught up, but I… don’t really know what was written, to be honest. I just got messages from people telling me what’s potentially being written.
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“So to this day, I honestly couldn’t know what you’re referring to, but, like, I know I didn’t… you’re talking about the congratulations part? Yeah. So for that, I like, I made sure to talk to her, because I know she’s young and, I don’t know, like, I’d feel really terrible if that, like, somehow impacted her humungous success, but she said it didn’t, and she didn’t even really notice, so I was really glad about that, and I was also just really glad that she’s such a sweet girl, which also just made me feel terrible even more.
“But, yeah, I don’t know. I feel like, for me, I was just trying to get through it so quickly that I forget a lot of things, and even going into the final, I wanted to, like, potentially write my speech because I know how I am talking and doing speeches, so that was, like, kind of a lesson to, like, stick to my instinct a little.
“But yeah, I will definitely remember to congratulate my opponents.”
Another reporter then wondered whether there were still positives to take from the week at least, as Osaka continued: “I would say yes and no.
“Yes, because obviously, like, my biggest goal was to be seeded in a tournament, and that’s something that kind of I knew immediately.
“And then no, because I just felt really bad and like shame. And I think I felt worse for my team because we couldn’t really celebrate properly, and they were with me this entire time, so they knew how big of a deal the final was, just knowing that I can go back to the, I don’t want to say that level, but just know that I can be there.”
Asked to clarify the ‘shame’ element of her comments, Osaka finished by noting: “Like, if I did very greatly offend Victoria. That part.”
Naomi Osaka remains the best active US Open champion
Whilst Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek will all be bidding to claim their second US Open title, this is a feat that Osaka has already achieved.
After all, she is a two-time champion in New York, having won in 2018 and 2020.
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This is obviously tied with Venus Williams, although her activity on the WTA can be drawn into question, given this Grand Slam will mark just her third event of the year, all of which came across this summer.
This champion’s pedigree and the swagger it should give her heading into New York could definitely provide her with an edge as Osaka seeks to maintain the form she amassed in Montreal.
AloJapan.com