Australian Open: Naomi Osaka - Shyness is an ornament
Naomi Osaka is the defending champion in the Australian Open 2020 . Anyone who saw the Japanese at the draw in Melbourne on Thursday might think that Osaka is still not at the top of the world.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Jan 17, 2020, 06:34 am
It is not that Naomi Osaka would not like to talk in principle. Of course there are players with a much greater need for notification on the WTA tour, just think of Andrea Petkovic. But when Osaka starts talking, it's not on his own initiative. And certainly not with Serena Williams .
Osaka was asked by the moderators of the draw at the Australian Open whether the 23-time major winner would give her advice from time to time in the conversations that led her. Whereupon the defending champion felt compelled to deliver a small "briefing" about her conversation with the women. The initiative would never come from her, she clearly prefers the setback position in the conversation. Especially with Serena. Osaka would just allow himself a shy greeting, the rest of the conversation would be denied by Serena.
Respect for Serena, Djokovic, Nadal and Co.
On Wednesday at the charity event, which raised more than five million Australian dollars for the victims of the bushfires, Naomi Osaka felt more like a groupie who has the chance to meet up with greats like Novak Djokovic , Rafael Nadal or Serena Williams to share the court. When asked why she was so reserved in the presence of the legends, Osaka only explained that the players mentioned had been there for so long. And she herself only a few years.
What matters is the present. And that doesn't look bad for Naomi Osaka. Last week in Brisbane, she had a match ball to make it into the final, but was beaten by the eventual winner Karolina Pliskova.
The past year, Osaka had just found a brilliant ending after missing the title defense at the US Open: with the titles in Osaka and Beijing.
Fissette on the side of Osaka
The first task at the Australian Open 2020 will not be unrelenting with Marie Bouzkova, furthermore the draw spat out possible opponents Venus Williams or Barbora Strycova in round three, afterwards maybe Sofia Kenin and in the quarterfinals Serena Williams. To make matters worse, Ashleigh Barty would wait in the semifinals according to the seed list. Which, however, does not find an easy way to win at home.
In any case, Naomi Osaka in Melbourne will not lack professional support: With Wim Fissette, a man has recently been sitting in her box who has already won the Grand Slam success elsewhere. Most recently in Wimbledon in 2018 as Angelique Kerber's coach. As is known in the final against Serena Williams.
Here is the individual tableau for women in Melbourne
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