US Open champ Osaka aims to be role model for Japanese girls
Naomi Osaka said Serena Williams' row with the umpire during the US Open final had not altered her feelings about winning a Grand Slam largely because she had no idea how she was supposed to react, the Japanese said yesterday.
Osaka's breakthrough win in New York was overshadowed by an explosive row between her opponent Williams and umpire Carlos Ramos which resulted in the 23-time Grand Slam champion being docked a game and fined US$17,000 (S$23,270).
At Flushing Meadows on Saturday, the 20-year-old was reduced to tears during the presentation ceremony but, on her arrival back in Japan yesterday, she said she had not been saddened by the incident.
"For me, I don't feel sad because I wouldn't even know what I'm expected to feel," she told a news conference in Yokohama ahead of the Pan Pacific event that begins on Monday.
"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."
The final divided tennis,triggering a debate about sexism in the sport that was fuelled by Williams' assertion that Ramos would not have dealt with a male player in the same way.
Much of the criticism of Williams has centred on how her actions had spoiled a precious moment for Osaka, who was even moved to apologise for beating the home favourite to a crowd angrily booing Ramos.
In becoming her country's first ever Grand Slam singles champion, Osaka, the daughter of a Haitian father and Japanese mother, is also helping break new ground in Japan as her biracial identity challenges the country's self-image as a racially homogenous society.
Public attitudes are slowly changing as Japanese society becomes more integrated with the global economy, and the emergence of more ethnically mixed celebrities, especially in sport, is helping.
In embracing her new high profile, Osaka wants to serve as a role model for Japanese kids.
"I have definitely been thinking about if little kids were watching and they wanted to play tennis too," she said.
"I've always thought that Kei (Nishikori) is a super good role model on the men's side and I wish that there was one on the women's side. So hopefully I can be that role model."
Osaka, ranked seventh in the world, aims to qualify for the WTA Finals in Singapore at the end of the season. - REUTERS
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