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“Fans There Accept Me For Who I Am”: Naomi Osaka Opens Up On French Open To Billie Jean King

Published 10/11/2020, 10:31 AM EDT

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via Reuters

The French Open 2020 is on its last night. After two weeks of action, the curtains will be drawn to conclude this year’s Roland Garros. While Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will be fighting for the coveted trophy in the men’s final, the women’s final saw a new Grand Slam winner. However, what has been most profound in Paris is the absence of Roger Federer and Naomi Osaka.

Osaka engaged in a conversation with tennis legend Billie Jean King. The very first thing which came up was her absence from the tournament. Even though Naomi is not participating, yet she acknowledges how the French audience has embraced her and her game. For any player, it acts as a morale boost and for Osaka, it is no exception.

Yeah I mean for me the French Open or Roland Garros is definitely very special. I feel like since the first time I’ve played there. I’ve been really warmly embraced. I think that the fans there accept me for who I am and also they seem to like how I play, so I’m really grateful for that“, Naomi stated.

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Although she has won the US Open twice and the Australian Open once, she is yet to go beyond the third round. Therefore, she expressed her wish to get hold of the surface to go further and eventually win the tournament.

“Roland Garros clay is definitely a surface I’d want to try to master” the young player confessed.

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via Reuters

Injury woes for Naomi Osaka

The three-time Grand Slam winner was struggling with her hamstring for a long time. Prior to the US Open 2020, she was seen struggling in the Western and Southern Open. Although she went all the way to the finals, she refrained from playing it. Thereby settling for the runners up trophy in there.

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She continued her stellar performance in the US Open 2020 dragging the hamstring issue with her. Her efforts bore fruit as she stormed into the finals of the Flashing Meadows. Unlike the Western and Southern Open, she played the final in the US Open 2020. Her courage and valor sealed the deal and she went on to win the championship.

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Playing two tournaments suppressing the hamstring issue was too much for Osaka. She yielded good results from the tournaments therefore she decided it was time to tend to her injury. She decided to pull out of the French Open 2020 in an attempt to return to tennis fully fit and functional.

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Written by:

Francis Banerjee

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