Osaka win celebrated
Japan praises US Open champ for her humility
Tokyo – Japan celebrated Naomi Osaka’s victory over Serena Williams in the US Open final, with fans putting her stunning success down to a steely focus and humble attitude as much as her powerful performance at Flushing Meadows.
Osaka, who became the first Japanese player to clinch a Grand Slam singles title on Saturday, was a picture of calm in the midst of her opponent’s meltdown that cast a pall over the final.
The 20-year-old, who was born in Osaka, Japan, but raised in the United States, beat her childhood idol 6-2 6-4 on Saturday in a final marred by Williams’s outburst.
“Osaka played so well that Serena wasn’t able to play her tennis and she (Williams) got upset,” said Mitsuko Sakai, 63year-old amateur tennis player who woke up at 5am on Sunday in Tokyo to watch the final.
“She remained so calm throughout the match despite the brouhaha, Sakai said.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe congratulated Osaka on Twitter and thanked her for “giving Japan a boost of inspiration at this time of hardship” – a likely reference to the earthquake that hit the northern island of Hokkaido on Thursday, killing at least 21 people.
Kei Nishikori, who lost in the men’s semifinals to Novak Djokovic and was runner-up in 2014, posted a video of Osaka lifting the US Open trophy on his Twitter page along with the hashtag #proud and a Japanese flag.
Osaka said it was “always my dream to play Serena in the US Open finals”, and that, “I’m really grateful I was able to play with you”.