Naomi Osaka Hoping Serena Williams 'Isn't Mad' About 2018 US Open Loss

Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka played out one of the most controversial women’s singles finals in recent memory at the 2018 US Open, which the young Japanese star won quite comfortably in straight sets to claim Japan’s first Grand Slam title. The controversy was created by the American, who was penalized on three occasions by the chair umpire for on-court violations, which she vehemently disputed.

Osaka was reduced to tears as the partisan crowd on Arthur Ashe stadium directed boos toward the officials for penalizing Williams but it was an achievement that will go down in memory for Osaka. The 21-year-old spoke recently of the match and is hoping her childhood idol is not “mad” after losing to a much younger opponent.

Osaka continued her form from the 2018 US Open and went on to capture her second Grand Slam title at the 2019 Australian Open and become the No. 1 ranked player in the world. She is currently ranked No. 2 in the world.

“Is it kind of like raising a kid though? Like the kid grows up with you and you’re looking at the kid and you’re like, ‘Wow I’m proud of you’,” Osaka said during a recent interview, as quoted on Tennis World USA. “Then you’re cooking something in the kitchen and then the kid suddenly comes and cooks better than you. I feel like you would be proud but at the same time it would make you want to work harder. I don’t know, I hope Serena isn’t mad at me.”

Osaka has not a had great 2019 apart from her win at the Australian Open but admitted that her best always comes out on the big stages. She has not played since her first round loss at Wimbledon, with her next event likely to be the WTA premier event in Toronto or the Cincinnati Masters in the lead up to the 2019 US Open which begins on Aug. 26.

“For me, because I’ve spent so much of my life on courts where no one really watches, I think I always like when people watch because it feels like all the hard work you put in is finally being shown. That’s the moment where I try my best because I’m not an attention seeker, but I like when there’s a lot of people watching my matches."

“I feel like it is more fun on the big stages. There, a different side of my personality comes out because normally I don’t, no offense guys, I don’t like being surrounded by people,” Osaka added.