Page 24 - Tennis Magazine April 2019

The primary emotion Bajin tries to yet won the third set anyway. Again who she would play two days later: “I
project is positivity. It hasn’t always and again, she banished her doubts. love you,” Osaka said with a giggle. In
worked. This January in Brisbane, “I’m working very hard,” Bajin said, Melbourne, asked about the possibility
Osaka slouched her way to defeat in “and we are all, in the team, working of facing Kvitova, Osaka said, “I think
the semifinals. “I just feel like I had the hard to make sure that Naomi one day to have the opportunity to play her for
worst attitude today,” she said. might own the court like Serena.” the first time in the final of a Grand
By the Australian Open, Osaka had Osaka may never own the court with Slam is something very amazing.”
more than learned her lesson. Her Williams’ imperious authority, but right Osaka was just being her normal,
now, she owns it in authentic self. But her humility is more
her own way. than an appealing character trait: it’s
Bajin, Serena’s former also an effective strategy. At the US
In All About Eve, Open, Osaka’s admiration for Serena
hitting partner, knew the understudy, Eve helped defuse any animosity that

Osaka had the raw Harrington, deliber- Williams may have had for an upstart
ately sets her sights who was outplaying her. At the Austra-
materials of a champion. on taking her idol’s lian Open, Osaka thought of her match
place. The same with Kvitova, a two-time Wimbledon
can’t be said of winner, as an event to celebrate.
stubborn competitiveness has never Osaka. Even as she competes against Staying grounded and keeping her
been on greater display than it was in her rivals, she remains a fan at heart. expectations in check seems to help
Melbourne. She won four matches in After beating Serena in Miami last Osaka enjoy her job’s most pressure-
three sets, and twice came back from March, Osaka said, “I kind of wanted packed moments. Instead of believing
a set down. In the final against Petra to impress her.” At the US Open, after that she should win every match, she
Kvitova, Osaka squandered three winning her semifinal, Osaka was believes that she needs to play her
championship points in the second set, asked if she had a message for Serena, best just to keep up with her more
experienced opponents.
“I just thought to myself that this
Naomi’s mother, Tamaki, gives her daughter a much-needed hug at
Flushing Meadows (below). After two decades of travel, persistence is my second time playing a [Grand
and sacrifice, Osaka has realized her family’s dream with Bajin Slam] final; I can’t really act entitled,”
(right), whose experience and perspective have been invaluable.
Osaka said when she was asked how
she rebounded against Kvitova. “To be
playing against one of the best players
in the world, to lose a set, suddenly
to think that I’m so much better than
her that isn’t a possibility. I wanted to
enjoy my time here.”
Osaka offers sports audiences
something new. Yes, she wins with
rocket serves and superhuman
athleticism, but she also lets us see
the human doubts that come with
putting yourself on the line in public.
She proves that to walk the walk, you
don’t need to talk the talk.
Serena hasn’t been pushed off
the stage yet, but Osaka is certainly
up there with her idol now. Will she
become the WTA’s next star? She’s GETTY IMAGES; AP
already something better: she’s tennis’
next winner.

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