‘I Would Have Been Pulling for Serena Too’: US Open Champ Osaka

Naomi Osaka spoke to the media a day after the US Open final and said even she would have been rooting for Serena.

US Open women’s singles champion Naomi Osaka poses for photographers with her trophy at Top of the Rock Observation Deck at Rockefeller Center, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018, in New York. 

(Photo: AP)

The afternoon after defeating her childhood idol, Serena Williams, in the women's US Open singles final and capturing her first grand-slam championship, Japan's Naomi Osaka appeared at the top of New York's Rockefeller Center for a photo opportunity with her new trophy.

While the intention was for her to pose on the famed observation deck, wind and rain forced the celebrations indoors.

The weather didn't dampen her spirits though, as she spoke of fulfilling her childhood dream of facing Williams in a grand slam final and prevailing with a victory.

In this case it was a 6-2, 6-4 win, marked by Williams being penalised first a point, then a game, for on-court code violations.

During the awards ceremony Osaka deflected a question and addressed a crowd loudly booing with displeasure at Williams' penalties, letting them know that she understood their feelings.

"I mean, I could really feel for them. If I was in the stands I would have been pulling for Serena too" she said on Sunday afternoon. "I know that Serena's the crowd favourite, it's New York, it's in America and it's the US Open. I know everyone knew how badly she wanted to win the 24th Grand Slam."

With the US Open crown, Osaka becomes the first Japanese player to win a Grand Slam singles tournament.