Naomi Osaka drained class on the court in her Jennifer Brady’s defeat in the Australian Open final on Saturday night.
But she also showed a huge class with that.
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The Australian Open champion could have been forgiven for wanting to leave the Rod Laver Arena and celebrate with her team after winning her fourth Grand Slam title.
But an extraordinary act for the fans present shows everything you need to know about Osaka’s character.
After the trophy was handed over, the Japanese star signed some autographs before starting down the tunnel.
However, the crowd screamed and howled for Osaka’s return, and the 23-year-old obeyed obediently.
Osaka returned to the court and continued to sign more autographs, seeming to have the intention of giving each fan a precious memory.
“This is great. Naomi is out there signing all the autographs,” tweeted WTA Insider Courtney Nguyen.
“I ran back after entering the tunnel.”
Journalist Sam Landsberger tweeted: “Before leaving Rod Laver Arena, Naomi Osaka goes right, left, goes up the tunnel and then comes back to sign 36 autographs in total.
“Tennis balls, programs, tickets, caps, paper fans … no one was missing.
“She even posed for pictures and threw balls back at the fans. Class.”
Before leaving Rod Laver Arena, Naomi Osaka goes to the right, left, goes up the tunnel, and then turns back to sign 36 autographs in total. Tennis balls, programs, tickets, caps, paper fans … nobody lost. She even posed for pictures and threw balls for fans. Class. #ausopen pic.twitter.com/Z8TT4YxGkz
– Sam Landsberger 🗯 (@SamLandsberger) February 20, 2021
I love it when the champions stop to sign autographs. Osaka incredible in many ways.
– Rohit Brijnath (@rohitdbrijnath) February 20, 2021
Naomi Osaka is simply BEAUTIFUL. The speech. Autographs. The smile. More please!! #AusOpen # AO2021 ♥ ️🎾
– Liz Daniels (@lizziedaniels) February 20, 2021
Naomi Osaka is so graceful. Sign autographs for those kids and make sure no one is left out. Beautiful to watch. A true champion. #AusOpen
– Yetunde (@yetundeosadiq) February 20, 2021
Naomi Osaka tipped for the greatness of Grand Slam
Osaka is now being hailed as a big double-digit winner to wait after flying in thin air.
On Saturday night, the Japanese superstar became the first woman since Monica Seles, 30 years ago, to win her first four Grand Slam finals.
“This is an incredible company,” said Osaka.
“I hope I can have, like, a grain of how their career played out.
“But you can only wish and keep going your own way. But, yes, it is definitely a crazy thing to hear.”
In a threatening way to Osaka’s rivals, not even the legends Serena and Venus Williams, Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert or Billie-Jean King managed to win their first four important finals.
The Williams sisters are the only other active players with more slams and three-time Open champion Mats Wilander is convinced that there is much more to come after ex-No. 1 world champion confirmed her status as Serena’s successor and the new dominator of women’s tennis.
“I think she has at least 10 Grand Slams, I really do,” said Wilander at Eurosport.
“She moves very well, she is so strong and it doesn’t look like she can get hurt very easily.
“She is very overwhelmed when she wins, which means, I think, she wants to earn more. Everything speaks for her winning at least 10 majors.
“She says she’ll take it in five. Certainly she’ll reach five. I think she’s up there in 10, 11, 12 at the very least.
“She is the best hard court player we’ve ever had in women’s football since Serena was at her best.
“She didn’t miss a Grand Slam final and she didn’t lose in the second week of a Slam, so I don’t know if she feels under pressure.”
with AAP
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