In 2020, World Number ten Naomi Osaka was stopped by then-15-year-old Coco Gauff in the third round of Australian Open. After getting knocked out in straight sets, she couldn’t defend her big title in Melbourne. Later, she represented Japan at the Fed Cup, and then the tour was put on a halt.

Recently, two-time Grand Slam champion Osaka was in conservation with CNN Sport’s Christina Macfarlane and talked about her ‘crippling shyness.’

Naomi Osaka on her shyness regrets

When it comes to speaking in public, powerful athlete Osaka keeps it down and utters minimum words, while she’s asked any questions. But, now the 22-year-old regrets being quite during certain instances. 

“For me, I have a lot of regrets before I go to sleep, and most of the regret is that I don’t speak out about what I’m thinking,” she said.

“There’s a lot of times where I see myself in situations where I could have put my input in, but instead I’ve held my tongue and things kept moving in a way that I didn’t really enjoy. I feel like if I asserted myself I would have gotten the opportunity to see what would have happened.”

A few days ago, the Japanese ace Osaka posted on Twitter regarding the end of her shy nature. She feels it’s a waste of time.

There have been situations, where she where wanted to express more, but really couldn’t do it due to her reserved nature. She doesn’t really enjoy being reserved and that led her to miss a conversation with Jay-Z.

Tennis being an Interactional sport, she gets to travel a lot and simultaneously, she meets different kinds of people. But, due to her shyness, she doesn’t really open up with everyone.

“I’m done being shy. It’s really a waste of my time,” she posted. “All the things I could’ve learned but no I’m over here actually putting my own limiter on myself.”

Read More – “I am Done Being Shy” – Naomi Osaka Regrets Not Talking to Jay Z

Osaka’s quarantine

Amid the lockdowns, Osaka is trying to learn some new skills. She has been drawing and painting these days. She hasn’t been practicing tennis and doesn’t seem to be in the mood to train five hours a day. Osaka is presently residing in her house in Los Angeles, California.