Because of a sad experience, Naomi Osaka deliberately did not shed any tears of joy in public after her semi-final appearance at the US Open. That’s what called Billie Jean King on the scene.
Naomi Osaka has every reason to shine in these New York days. The 20-year-old, who grew up in nearby Long Island, has reached the first Grand Slam semi-final of her still young career at the US Open. There the world rankings-19th, by the way Schützling of the Munich Sascha Bajin, will meet last year’s US Open finalist Madison Keys (USA/No. 14) in the second match of the Night Session on Thursday.
Osaka is full of excitement and anticipation, of course. But after her clear quarter-final success against the completely overtaxed Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko (6:1, 6:1), the Japanese woman looked deep with the bushy ponytail. Journalists asked Osaka why she was only relatively happy about her victory.
And the answer astounded. “I didn’t celebrate because I cried a little after the match – and people made fun of it,” Osaka said, “so I just walked to the net this time.
The media representatives were puzzled – and shortly afterwards an icon spoke out on the subject of “Heul Gate”. Billie Jean King tweeted – and as so often the advice of the 74-year-olds was quite wise. “I am so sorry that you were teased because of your tears. Never be afraid to be yourself,” wrote BJK to Osaka and added the hashtag “Champion.
Will Osaka take the wise words of Billie Jean King to heart? One may be curious…!!!!