Hosts of the ‘Nothing Major Show,’ a podcast featuring former tennis players Sam Querrey, John Isner, Steve Johnson, and Jack Sock, recently discussed the controversy involving four-time major winner Naomi Osaka.
The Japanese recently came under fire for an alleged cold shoulder towards Canadian Open champion Victoria Mboko at the end of their finale showdown. Osaka thanked the crowd and organisers but left out Mboko’s name, sparking criticism from fans and pundits.
Sam Querrey Has Urged Naomi Osaka to ‘Act Like an Adult’
Former US tennis star Sam Querrey criticized Osaka’s attitude at the Canadian Open, stating:
“Can Osaka just act like an adult for five minutes? Just give a nice speech, fake it for a minute, and then move on to the locker room.”
The American claimed that Osaka’s attitude in Canada drove him “nuts.” “She is also going to make, like 30 million dollars,” added Querrey.
Concurring with Querrey’s take, fellow retired US pro Steve Johnson said:
“As athletes, you take the good with the bad. You can’t just take praise when you are playing well.”
He compared the Osaka controversy to World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka’s comments after losing the French Open to Coco Gauff. For those unversed, Sabalenka attributed the American’s victory in the final to her own poor performance.
“We saw Sabalenka have the same,” he said. “We’ve seen (it) on the men’s side too.”
However, Johnson stressed that Sabalenka did not deserve the backlash for her comments, stating:
“I don’t think Sabalenka deserved what she got after the French Open talking about that loss because she was critical of her own game.”
He explained further, “When you get to the biggest stage, and you lose, and you talk to the press 10 minutes later. You haven’t had time to process it. Your mind is not that clear.”
Johnson suggested what Osaka should have done at the end of her match against Mboko, saying:
“At least give an honest answer, thank your opponent. “I know it’s hard to do, but as an athlete, that’s your job.”
Naomi Osaka Issued an Apology After Canadian Open Debacle – Here Is What She Said
Amid the criticism she received, Osaka took to her Threads account to apologize for the incident.
She wrote, “Thank you, Montreal, it’s been an incredible few weeks. I also want to apologize and congratulate Victoria. You played amazingly, and especially, you have a fantastic career ahead! I realized I didn’t congratulate you on the court.”
Osaka explained that she did not wish to deliver a nervous speech like the one she delivered after winning Indian Wells in 2018 or after her 2021 Australian Open triumph, stating:
“Honestly, I was stunned and completely focused on not giving the same speech as in Indian Wells 2018 or in Jenny/Jennifer’s situation, so I tried to keep it as short as possible.”
Thanks to her strong showing in Montreal, Osaka has risen to No. 25 in the world rankings. The result was of great significance for the Japanese star as she is making a comeback to the sport after two extended hiatuses from the sport.
After skipping the ongoing Cincinnati Open, Osaka is expected to return to action at the US Open.
AloJapan.com