Osaka emulates Date, Nishikori in ranking
NEW YORK: Naomi Osaka climbed two places to world No.4 in the latest WTA rankings released yesterday, equalling the highest-ever standing by a Japanese player.
The 20-year-old, who was born in Osaka and raised in the United States by her Japanese mother and Haitian father, started the year as No.68 but soared up the rankings with titles at Indian Wells in March and the US Open last month.
She finished runner-up at the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo late last month and reached the semi-finals of the China Open, which concluded on Sunday.
Two other Japanese players have previously reached world No.4 — Kimiko Date in 1995 and Kei Nishikori, who most recently held the rank in March last year.
Meanwhile, Chinese tennis great Li Na said Osaka can go on and win multiple Grand Slam titles — if she can find the inner desire to match her physical abilities.
Osaka has admitted feeling burdened by expectations after last month’s stunning victory in New York, saying she puts pressure on herself to “do more, do better”.
She was also in tears after her “bittersweet” US Open win, which was marred by Serena Williams’ explosive row by the chair umpire. “I believe with her abilities and strength, she can win many [Grand Slam titles] — that is if she really has the desire to be a champion,” Li said.
Li is often credited with igniting tennis interest in Asia but she said the sport still had a long way to go. “Tennis in Asia is still in its adolescence. We have just passed the infancy stage, so we can still go a lot further,” said Li.