Naomi Osaka: I don’t feel sad about US Open final furore

Tennis News
Naomi Osaka crying with Serena Williams

Naomi Osaka has played down suggestions that she was “sad” that her US Open win was overshadowed by Serena Williams’ arguments with the chair umpire.

The Japanese player won her maiden Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows on Saturday, but the match was marred by Williams’ run-in with umpire Carlos Ramos.

The official gave her code violations for coaching and racket abuse, and a game penalty after she called him a “thief” and a “liar”.

Osak, though, says she didn’t take much note of what was going on during the match.

“I couldn’t tell what was going on, it was so loud and a little bit stressful,” she said during an appearance on The Ellen Show.

“When you are little, you are taught not lo look when the opponent gets angry, you are told to turnaround and try and focus.

“In my mind I really wanted to know what was going on. I heard a lot of people in the crowd making noises and I really wanted to turn around.”

During the presentation ceremony the crowd again booed and there was a moment when both Osaka and Williams cried before the American whispered something in the 20-year-old ear.

“She said was proud of me and to know the crowd weren’t booing at me,” Osaka revealed.

During a press conference in Japan, she was again asked about the controversial final, but insisted she didn’t feel that her moment was ruined.

“For me, I don’t feel sad because I wouldn’t even know what I’m expected to feel,” she said. “Because it was my first final and my first Grand Slam victory, overall I felt really happy and I know that I accomplished a lot.

“I don’t think I even thought about feeling sad because there’s no experience for me to draw on (from) any other Grand Slam final.”

More from Tennis365:

Naomi Osaka Serena Williams

Latest