Naomi Osaka is receiving public support from Nick Kyrgios as the Australian tennis player sent out an encouraging message to the Japanese following her opening win at her home tournament in Osaka.
Playing in her hometown, the home star got straight to business and bageled wildcard world No. 266 Wakana Sonobe. After dominating the first set, the four-time Grand Slam champion also routinely closed out the match in two sets, registering a 6-0 6-4 win.
For Osaka, it was her first match in her hometown since she won the title there in 2019. And the 27-year-old - who is the top seed at this year's tournament - made a promising start
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The Japanese's swift first-round win at her home event caught the attention of Kyrgios, who wrote on X: "Love what Im seeing from Naomi (lightning emoji)."
Osaka's made a real breakthrough in the last couple of months
After returning from pregnancy at the start of 2024, Osaka just wasn't managing to meet her expectations and do well on the biggest stage. But then, the Japanese turned the page this past summer by reaching the final of the WTA 1000 tournament in Montreal and making her first Grand Slam semifinal in four years at the US Open.
Honestly, I don't feel sad. It's really weird. Well, it's not weird, because I just feel like I did the best that I could. Honestly, it's kind of inspiring for me, because it makes me just want to train and try to get better, and hopefully, yeah, just give it my very best shot again and see what happens," the Japanese stated after her US Open semifinal loss to Amanda Anisimova.
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In the same presser after exiting the US Open, Osaka noted that she still believed she could win a Grand Slam as a mother.
Meanwhile, the Japanese plays against Suzan Lamens in the Osaka tournament second round.
