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via Reuters

via Reuters

Ever since Naomi Osaka announced herself to the tennis world by clinching the US Open in 2018, there was no looking back for the four-time Grand Slam champion. The Japanese had a solid start to her campaign this year as she won the Australian Open for the second time.

Since then, Osaka struggled to produce consistent tennis as she lost to the likes of Maria Sakkari, Karolina Muchova, Jessica Pegula, etc., amongst other. During the European clay season where Osaka looked determined to change her fortune on the red-turf, she found it hard to adapt her game to the surface.

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On top of this, Osaka got herself entangled in an off-court controversy at the French Open, where she decided to skip post-match press conferences in order to preserve her mental health. With the backlash that followed, she decided to skip Wimbledon and only appeared for the US hard-court summer.

Naomi Osaka posts picture with boyfriend Cordae on Instagram

Recently, the Japanese star posted a photo with rapper-boyfriend, Cordae on Instagram.

Why every time I post with him all I get is- “where is the album?” 💀😂 hi to you too”, wrote Osaka.

 

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A post shared by 大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka)

Watch this story: Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams Lead the List of Most-Followed Tennis Players on Instagram

Even though Osaka appears to be an introvert by nature, she has always made press conferences funny with her wit and rather innocent answers. Coming to her relationship with Cordae, the duo first met at an NBA game in 2019.

Osaka wrote a heart-felt message dedicated to Cordae after winning US Open last year

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After winning her second US Open title last year, the former world no.1 praised boyfriend for canceling all his commitments to be there with her in New York.

He stopped everything he was doing because I Face-timed him a couple days earlier and said I was feeling sad and lonely in the bubble. I later found out that he hopped on a plane shortly after that call and then quarantined himself for a couple days in a hotel to see me”.

via Getty

As the couple’s relationship’s going strong at the moment, Naomi Osaka looks for a positive start to her WTA campaign next year, starting with tournaments in Australia.

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Also read: Simona Halep’s 7-Year-Old Streak Snapped After Injury-Plagued Season