Naomi Osaka recently shared that she was in disbelief upon learning that the late basketball legend Kobe Bryant, was coming to watch her second-round match at the US Open five years ago. Osaka said this after her first-round win over Jelena Ostapenko at the 2024 US Open.
Before this season, the Japanese’s last appearance at Flushing Meadows was in 2022, when she suffered a first-round defeat to Danielle Collins. Additionally, the former World No. 1 missed the 2023 US Open after giving birth to her daughter Shai.
Naomi Osaka returned to Flushing Meadows this season, eliminating Jelena Ostapenko in the first round. Osaka convincingly defeated the 2017 French Open winner 6-3, 6-2, registering her first win over a top-ten player in four years.
In her post-match press conference, Osaka wore Kobe Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers jersey—the same one she wore when teaming up with Nick Kyrgios during the Mixed Madness event. When asked about her memories of the late legend attending the 2019 US Open to watch her play, Naomi Osaka said:
“I mean, I guess I kind of played on the same court today. Louis Armstrong was the court he came and watched my match. I honestly remember being a little bit in disbelief that he was coming specifically to watch my match. Just to feel that support was unreal.”
Osaka further explained that she likes wearing Kobe Bryant jerseys after the matches because it helps her feel connected to his spirit and legacy.
“I think for me I always wear Kobe jerseys after matches and practices because I feel like a little bit, like, I can kind of keep his spirit with me,” she added.
Naomi Osaka has often said how Kobe Bryant guided her through tough times. Widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players, Bryant spent his entire 20-year NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers and won five NBA championships with the team.
“Yeah, it’s funny, though, I feel like I cried a lot more” : Naomi Osaka said upon evoking emotions after her 1R US Open win
In the aforementioned press conference, Osaka reflected on her emotional reaction after her first-round win over Ostapenko, saying it was the same court where she won her first US Open title.
She recalled crying hard after defeating Sabalenka in the round of 16, which was crucial for her because she had struggled to advance past that stage before.
“You know, I would say yes, and it was probably on the same exact court, so maybe it’s that court that does something to me. The first US Open that I won, I played Sabalenka in the round of 16. I remember I cried really hard after that, because I was having my, like, barrier of I couldn’t get to the round of 16 or the quarters. I think it was the round of 16 though,” Osaka said.
However, the Japanese found it funny after realizing that she cried more after defeating the Latvian than she did after winning the Grand Slams.
“Yeah, it’s funny, though, I feel like I cried a lot more now than I did, like, winning slams. That’s a little funny. Yeah,” she added.
Naomi Osaka’s next challenge at the US Open will be against Karolina Muchová, marking their third encounter on tour. The winner of the match will take on either Anastasia Potapova or Varvara Lepchenko in the third round.
