Naomi Osaka is a baseline player that plays with a lot of aggression. Her raw power, specifically on the forehand and serve, is exceptional. At the age of sixteen, Osaka’s forehands could reach 160 km/h (100 mph), and her service has been timed at much to 200 km/h (124 mph), making her one of the top ten fastest servers in WTA history.
Osaka’s secret to success is her ability to win long rallies, even though she can use her power to strike a high proportion of wins. When Osaka reached her first career WTA final at the 2016 Pan Pacific Open, it was one of the first significant examples of how effective that technique was.
Osaka Inspired by Serena
Naomi rose to the top of the WTA rankings at the beginning of 2019 and her best tennis ever since. She is now rated No. 2 and is one of the top female tennis players. Serena Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam winner, is her idol, and she has frequently stated how the great American has influenced her in every way.
Despite being an introvert and bashful at times, the 23-year-old speaks up about various social and cultural concerns. The four-time Major champion also skipped the French Open news conference. On Twitter, Osaka adamantly stated the reason for her absence.
Despite receiving a fine for failing to appear in front of the media, the tennis star expresses her strong opinions. She is struggling on the dirt, and her preparations for the forthcoming French Open have been less than ideal, with only one win in three matches.
About Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka is a professional tennis player, born on October 16, 1997, in Japan. According to the Women’s Tennis Association, Naomi Osaka is ranked first in singles (WTA). She has four Grand Slam singles championships and is the current US Open and Australian Open winner. On the WTA Tour, she has seven victories, including two Premier Mandatory titles. Naomi Osaka is a Japanese tennis player who is 23 years old.
Osaka is the first woman to win her first two Grand Slam singles titles since Jennifer Capriati in 2001. The 2018 US Open and the 2019 Australian Open were back-to-back Grand Slam competitions. She was also the first woman to win consecutive Grand Slam singles titles since Serena Williams in 2015.
Osaka was born in Japan to a Japanese mother and a Haitian father. He has lived and trained in America since he was three years old. In the 2014 Stanford Classic, she rose to prominence. She made her WTA Tour debut at the US Open, defeating the previous champion Samantha Stosur.
After reaching her maiden WTA final at the 2016 Pan Pacific Open in Japan, she cracked the top 50 in the WTA rankings two years later. Osaka climbed into the top tier of women’s tennis when she won her first WTA title at the Indian Wells Open in 2018.
She went on to win the US Open final the following year, defeating Serena Williams. The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion became the first Japanese player to win a Grand Slam singles title. Since 2018, she has won the Grand Slam singles title four times.
Osaka has created a name for herself as an activist, supporting the Black Lives Matter cause during her matches. She was one of Sports Illustrated’s 2020 Sportspersons of the Year for her activism; it was primarily due to her success at the US Open.
Game Analysis
The right-hander has won the US Open twice and is an outstanding hard-court player (2018 and 2020). In 2021, the Next-Gen sensation 17-5. This year, the Japanese have won 74.7 percent of her first-serve points.
Osaka’s consistency is incredible; in 22 matches in 2021, she has won 77.1 percent of service games. In stressful scenarios against equally competent pros, this has proven to be the pivotal moment.
The breakpoint conversion rate of 47 percent in Japan needs to be improved. Her form is specifically fragile right now, with the massive event in New York looming. Naomi Osaka lost in three sets to Swiss wildcard Jil Teichmann in the pre-quarterfinals. The 23-year-old recorded seven double faults and a 38.1 percent second-serve winning rate, compared to Teichmann’s 54.3 percent.
Osaka will be anxious about the momentum loss after winning the first set. It could jeopardize her chances in New York. With the title of defending champion on her back, she will be under much more pressure.
Strengths and weaknesses
Osaka has one of the best serves in the world, and aces and service winners provide a steady stream of free points. She also has a great return and can hit it hard even when stretched out wide.
With a single blow, Osaka’s forehand may enable her to take control of rallies. Her backhand isn’t as effective as her forehand, but it’s still a good shot with enough depth and angle to keep her opponents at bay.
Few players can match Osaka’s ability to combine offense and defense. When playing against stronger hitters, she can use topspin and margin to attack their groundstrokes.
Osaka is known for her mental toughness, and even when under duress, she maintains her cool. She has already won many comeback matches in her career and boasts the uncommon ability to play her best tennis in the most critical situations.
Endorsements
Osaka is one of the world’s most marketable athletes. In 2019, she earned an estimated $16 million in endorsements, second only to Serena Williams ($25 million). The following year, she earned $37.4 million in total, including $34 million in sponsorships, making her the highest-paid female athlete of all time. She was the 29th highest-paid athlete in 2020 and the 8th highest-paid athlete based on endorsements.
Since 2019, Nike has been Osaka’s gear sponsor, replacing Adidas, who previously sponsored her for four years. Osaka has a Nike clothing range with her monogram logo, inspired by the Japanese flag, and includes her initials.
Since 2008, she has received rackets from Yonex, a Japanese sports equipment manufacturer. Her racket is a Yonex Ezone 98 with Polytour Pro 125 and Rexis 130 strings. Since 2016, the IMG management firm has been representing Osaka.
Osaka is a brand ambassador for Nissan and Citizen Watch, both Japanese companies. She also supports Nissin Foods, Shiseido Cosmetics, Wowow Broadcasting, and All Nippon Airways, a noodle company (ANA). Osaka was named the Tag Heuer and Louis Vuitton brand ambassadors in January 2021, and she will participate in their Spring-Summer 2021 campaign.
