“I started crying a lot,” Naomi Osaka revisits the fierce social media criticism she received after beating Serena Williams in the 2018 US Open final

Naomi Osaka recently expressed excitement about being back on the hard court after earning her fifth Top 20 win of the year.

“I started crying a lot,” Naomi Osaka revisits the fierce social media criticism she received after beating Serena Williams in the 2018 US Open final

In circle: Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams (Via Imago)

Naomi Osaka revisited the fierce criticism she received from some section of tennis fans on social media after beating Serena Williams to win her first US Open. The Japanese star produced an all-round display to beat fans’ favorite 6-2, 6-4 in the highly-anticipated final.

Though the scorelines suggest a smooth-sailing match, it was marred by controversy. Williams let her frustration get the better of her in the middle of the match, as she got into a heated debate with the chair umpire. She called the chair umpire a thief and accused him of sexism after receiving a game penalty.

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While the tension continued, Osaka kept calm, watching the event unfold. After minutes of delay, the match continued, and the Japanese ace went on to claim her first Grand Slam title. In an episode of the Tennis Insider club podcast, the 26-year-old reflected on the match and the social media hate messages she got from some sections of fans after her victory.

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After I won my first US Open (2018), I went on social media and the night after I won, I was receiving treatment and I was just reading a lot of people saying that I didn't deserve to win. Oh God! I remember I started crying a lot. And I still think about it a lot.
Naomi Osaka said.

Osaka added that now she has matured as a professional player and doesn’t bother about criticism or hate that comes from social media. In addition, Williams later apologized to Osaka on social media for her contentious behavior during the match.

Naomi Osaka excited about being back on the hard court

Serena Williams has since retired in 2022, while Naomi Osaka is still active in the WTA Tour. Osaka won her opening match at the National Bank Open in Montreal. She beat World No.9 Ons Jabeur 6-3, 6-1 on Wednesday (August 7).

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Naomi Osaka (Image via Imago)

Osaka had failed to win a single match at the Paris Olympics, but back on the hard court, she claimed her fifth Top 20 win of the year. After the victory, she admitted she loved playing against the best.

Everyone knows I really love hard courts. I wasn’t thinking too much. It was very instinctual. Honestly, when I play the best players, like Ons, I tend to play better.
Naomi Osaka said via APnews.

The four-time Grand Slam champion has been inconsistent in her form since her return from maternity leave this year. She will hope to find her best form ahead of the US Open. In Montreal, Osaka will play Elise Mertens in the second round.

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