Home

Tennis

Naomi Osaka Reveals Her Favorite Sport Besides Tennis

Published 10/31/2020, 1:32 AM EDT

Follow Us

via Reuters

The Japanese professional tennis player and World No. 3 Naomi Osaka recently answered some interesting Q&A’s on her Instagram account. She revealed that besides tennis her favorite sport is basketball.

The three-time Grand Slam champion is apparently a hardcore fan of the NBA champion, Los Angeles Lakers fan. It was the franchise’s first win in almost a decade.

Osaka is the defending champion of the US Open and remains the only Japanese player to win a Major. Her first title was against 23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams at the US Open 2018, where she won 6-2, 6-4. She also claimed the next major at the Australian Open 2019 defeating Petra Kvitova 7-6, 5-7, 6-4.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

USA Today via Reuters

“Kobe Bryant thought I was going to be great”: Osaka

During her 2020 US Open campaign, she repeatedly wore Kobe Bryant’s Laker jersey as a testimony of strength for herself. Later, she even posed wearing the same along with the winner’s trophy.


Kobe Bryant was a basketball legend who played for the Lakers and won five NBA Championships. He was and is considered one of the greatest of all-time athletes. He lost his life alongside his daughter Gianna in a helicopter crash with seven others. Later in the press conference, Osaka said, “I just want to be the type of person that he thought I was going to be. He thought I was going to be great, so hopefully, I will be great in the future.”

Trending

Get instantly notified of the hottest Tennis stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

“Keeping His Legacy Alive”: Naomi Osaka Vows to Make NBA Legend Kobe Bryant Proud

What Are Some Interesting Facts About Naomi Osaka?

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

USA Today via Reuters

Even though there is not a lot to know about her personal life yet, the Q&A’s of the 23-year-old star helped fans to get to know her better. Like her favorite city is Tokyo in Japan and it is her older sister Mari Osaka (also a professional tennis player) who is sillier of the two.

When she was born her mother wanted to name her Leo. The World No. 3 also confessed that her favorite kit is the US Open 2019 kit.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

The current US Open champion might head to the Australian Open next where she will aim to win a fourth Grand Slam title.

Beyonce Sends Special Wishes for US Open Champion Naomi Osaka on Her Special Day

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Purav Joshi

1,357Articles

One take at a time

Purav Joshi is a Tennis author at EssentiallySports. Having a degree in Films, Television and Media Production, he guided his passion for writing and journalism into the sport of aces and rallies. With over 2 years of experience as a copywriter, Purav has authored over 500 tennis articles.
Show More>