US OPEN

August 27, 2022

Naomi Osaka

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Naomi, can you tell us your thoughts on being back in New York.

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, I mean, for me, I'm really happy to be back here. I always have really good memories here. The food's good, so...

There's not really much to complain about.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What is your mindset coming into this tournament?

NAOMI OSAKA: I don't know. I feel like I would have lied, like, a day ago or so and said that I was really relaxed. But actually, like, when I practiced today I felt very anxious. I think it's 'cause I really want to do well 'cause I feel I haven't been doing well lately.

I don't know. It's tough. Like, of course, you don't want to lose in the first round of a slam. I feel like I always do pretty well here. It's kind of, like, taking the pressure off of myself, but it's always going to be there.

I think the opponent I'm going to play is also really tough, so it adds a little bit extra. I'm just trying to enjoy the time that I have here.

Q. In terms of practicing and getting your reps in and stuff, how are you feeling the courts are playing? Does it feel fast? Slower? How have the practices been going so far?

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, you know me, I'm the most, like, I cannot tell anything. I thought that I was playing fine.

Honestly, my first practice here I thought I played way better than I did in Cincinnati. So whatever's happening on the courts here works out better for me.

Yeah, I also think I played a lot more matches on these courts than in Cincinnati, so it's good for me (smiling).

Q. I wanted to ask about Mari actually, an art show she was doing in Japan. You collaborated with her on certain projects. What is it like for you seeing this process in her post tennis years?

NAOMI OSAKA: For me it's really cool just to, like, watch her grow. I know that ever since I was a kid, like, she was always drawing. I knew that was something she was really passionate about.

To see her, like, reach towards her goals and her dreams, like take a step. I'm sure she was pretty, like, scared to just go out there and see what happens. I think it took a lot of courage and I'm really proud of her, excited to see what she does next.

Q. It's not the case this year, but you've been here before as the defending champ twice, also in Australia. Can you run me through what the difference is? Is there an extra layer of challenge when you're defending a title? Is it more hyped when you're defending?

NAOMI OSAKA: I mean, I definitely think there is a bit more stress when you're defending, especially since people throw the word around. You think about points and stuff. Like, you don't want to have all those points taken off.

I definitely think it is something that's in the back of your mind. I don't know. You just want to replicate, like, the success that you've done the year prior.

Q. About Serena retiring. I know you've been going to her matches some in Canada and Cincinnati. What has been your reaction to her announcement? What has it been like watching her? Why have you tried to seek out those chances to do it?

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, I mean, like, someone asked me that same question like literally five minutes ago.

I think that her legacy is really wide to the point where you can't even describe it in words. Like, she changed the sport so much. She's introduced people that have never heard of tennis into the sport. I think I'm a product of what she's done. I wouldn't be here without Serena, Venus, her whole family. I'm, like, very thankful to her.

I also was trying to figure out how to sum it into words. I honestly think that she's, like, the biggest force in the sport. That's not intentionally trying to, like, make Federer or Nadal smaller. I just think she's the biggest thing that will ever be in the sport.

It's just really an honor just to watch her play. She's giving us a chance to, like, watch her more.

I remember seeing an interview she did, I don't know what it was, like an on-court thing, that if she retires, she'll never tell anyone. I was really scared. Dang, when is the last time she's going to play?

Just to see her announce it and let people appreciate her legacy is really cool.

Q. What was your reaction to her announcement?

NAOMI OSAKA: Well, it was really weird. I watched her first match in Toronto before she announced it. For some reason I just started crying because I felt it. I felt, like, when I played her in Australia people were like, That's the last time she's going to be in Australia.

I was like, Dang, I really don't want this to be true.

I kind of felt like she was gearing up for her last U.S. swing. I just started crying. Then she announced it the day later. I'm like, Oh, my God, this is what devastation must feel like.

Yeah, it really is an honor just to keep watching her play.

Q. On that point, when you see the WTA Tour, the way that players play nowadays, from younger to older, also how people go about their careers as professional women tennis players, where do you see Serena's influence the most? She's going to stop playing and the tour will move on. In a lot of ways there are threads that you can still see where her legacy is still on the court even if she isn't.

NAOMI OSAKA: I mean for me, I think in a very -- like this is the most obvious part. But if you look at everyone that's our skin color, clearly we followed her. You know what I mean?

I also think, like, business-wise she's very into tech, so whoever follows that or tries to follow that, I think it will clearly be under her influence. Just overall like culturally and style-wise, she was the first one to have her own line and stuff like that.

There's definitely been a lot of barriers that I'm sure she had to fight to break down. We can now easily go through that because of her.

I don't know. I'm pretty sure there's a lot of things that she's done that I don't know about. But it will be interesting to see.

Q. What are your thoughts about your dad and coaching? What is your goal from going that route?

NAOMI OSAKA: My thoughts about my dad and coaching...

For me, I just really wanted a good energy. Honestly I feel like, on the court, I'm a very good adjuster. It's not like I need someone that's, like, telling me directly what to do or percentages or stuff. I just need someone that makes me confident in myself and my game.

I think he's a really good person to do that because he's known me the longest and he's watched my game develop over time. That was kind of the intention behind that.

I don't know. It's just nice to have that chemistry back again.

Q. Are you excited about it?

NAOMI OSAKA: You know, I was really excited at the start of the season, but like unfortunately it hasn't really gone my way. But I think that's kind of what life is.

I've reached the stage where I'm at the slam now. This is my favorite slam. Well, Australia... Both of them are my favorite slams (smiling).

I just think I'm trying to enjoy the moment a lot. I'm really grateful he's here for me when I needed him.

Q. There's also the change at the Open with coaches being able to communicate with the players from the stands. What are your thoughts about that?

NAOMI OSAKA: Has that happened before? Like is it this year or last year was it the same rule?

THE MODERATOR: I think this year is the first time you can do it here.

NAOMI OSAKA: Well, I'll let you know after my match (smiling). I don't know.

I'm the type that doesn't really like talking to people. I don't know. I'm very stubborn, so I like to try to solve things by myself.

I'll let you know after the match.

(Naomi's answers to questions in Japanese.)

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, I would say I've kind of talked to Serena a little bit. I just get really, like, nervous around her. It's really weird to idolize someone, then boom, you're just talking to them. I don't know. I feel stressed out.

But she's really sweet. She's, like, given me pointers sometimes. I wouldn't say tips, but it's more like advices. It's just really cool to now, like, be next -- not next to, but to be able to interact with someone like this, just see kind of how they're navigating through their own journey.

I know she didn't call it a retirement, she called it like an evolution which I think is really cool. I feel like the term 'retirement' kind of means an end to something. But since she says 'evolution', it means like a continuing journey.

Oh, no, I could never do that (laughter).

Yeah, I mean, I think this year's really funny for me just in regards to last year. But this is definitely the most physically, I don't even want to say 'injured', but I've had way more niggles than I've had before in my career.

I don't know, I was telling Nana that maybe I'm getting old, maybe this is like the growing pains. But I would say it's something that's very frustrating but at the same time interesting because it made me feel like, Wow, I really want to be able to play again like back how I used to.

I don't even know if I'll be able to play like how I used to, but at least at a competitive level. I think I was able to do that quite well.

But, yeah, I think my mindset now is just, like, trying to have fun 'cause I wanted to be here when I was a kid, so...

I played her in Florida? I was thinking that was back in the old days. Oh, Miami.

Yeah, I remember the Miami match. She said her neck was hurting so she couldn't really serve that well. But I feel like I know her name quite well. She's a very big power player.

For me, I always feel like I have to be on top of it because, like, as soon as I hit a shorter ball or something, then she'll immediately be the aggressor.

For me it is a tough match, but at the same time I'm kind of relieved I'm playing someone that I know because I could have easily played against someone I have no information on. That in itself is also quite tough.

Yeah, me and Wim definitely had a lot of really good times. He's a really awesome coach. Like, us parting ways has nothing to do with like how good of a coach he is. Whenever you ask me, I'll always tell you he's really an amazing coach. It has more to do with you know like when someone breaks up with someone, they're like, It's not you, it's me (smiling).

Honestly it had more to do with me and the head space I was at at the moment. I just really felt like I needed to change something in a positive way and not, like, kind of look backwards.

Even now I don't want to look back and think I regret doing what I did. It's definitely now how I feel. I don't know. I'm kind of looking forward to who he works with next because I know he's going to bring them a lot of trophies.