Osaka, the new star women’s tennis needs
new york — A US Open that began by celebrating a 50th anniversary could end with Serena Williams snatching a record equalling 24th Grand Slam title but it may well be remembered as Naomi Osaka’s coming out party.
While the big names that fill the stands — Venus and Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and Caroline Wozniacki — have slowly aged, the people who run and market women’s tennis have patiently waited for the arrival of a fresh young face with a compelling story, big serve and punishing groundstrokes.
Meet Japan’s Naomi Osaka, who ticks all those boxes and more.
The daughter of a Japanese mother and Haitian father, the charismatic Osaka has offered signs that she possesses all the talent and personality necessary to fill the void that will be left when the likes of the Williams sisters and Sharapova eventually retire.
The 20-year-old, who grew up in New York and Florida, has Flushing Meadows buzzing about her lethal skills and disarming charm.
Behind a display of brutal power usually associated with Serena Williams, Osaka steamrolled her way into her first Grand Slam semifinal with a 6-1 6-1 demolition of Lesia Tsurenko.
“Osaka could be just the kind of star that tennis needs,” Bob Dorfman, sports marketing expert at Baker Street Advertising, said. “Cosmopolitan, appealing personality, cool mixed-race look, interesting background, charming on camera.
“She has the potential to grab a broad base of fans and inspire young women from America, Japan, the Caribbean, pretty much everywhere tennis is played.”
While the US Open semifinal will mark a Grand Slam high note, Osaka’s results indicate she is not a one-hit wonder.
This season she reached the fourth round at the Australian Open, won the elite hardcourt event at Indian Wells and the following week she took out Serena Williams in the first round at Miami. That run allowed her to shoot up the rankings and she arrived at Flushing Meadows as the 20th seed.
She has the potential to grab a broad base of fans and inspire young women
Bob Dorfman