Tennis: Naomi Osaka’s ‘bittersweet’ US Open memories

Naomi Osaka has admitted that “the memory of the US Open is a little bittersweet”

Naomi Osaka has admitted to “bittersweet memories” of her US Open win

Naomi Osaka has admitted that “the memory of the US Open is a little bittersweet” more than three weeks after her first grand-slam triumph was overshadowed by the controversy involving Serena Williams, who called umpire Carlos Ramos a “thief” and later accused him of sexism.

Osaka broke down in tears and then apologised to the New York crowd during the post-match presentation ceremony, and the 20-year-old still feels mixed emotions at becoming the first Japanese player to win a major.

“The day after I didn’t want to think about it because it wasn’t necessarily the happiest memory for me,” Osaka said. “I wanted to move on at that point.

“Of course I’m happy that I won a grand slam. I don’t think there’s anything that can take away from that. Not that when I look back on it that it’s a bad memory, but I feel like it was so strange.

“I didn’t just want to think about it. I wanted to just push it to the side. I’m still trying to take my mind off it a little bit.”

Osaka received a note of sympathy from Kim Clijsters, who defeated Williams in similar circumstances at the 2009 US Open. “Sad to hear this,” the four-times grand-slam champion said from Belgium.

The Times