US Open champion Naomi Osaka opened up about her first grand slam win which will be, for most part, remembered for Serena Williams' row with the chair umpire. Osaka was a guest in The Ellen Degeneres Show, and spoke to the talk show host Ellen Degeneres about her win and her idol Serena Williams.
During the trophy ceremony, a distraught and tearful Osaka was comforted by Serena as she leaned in and embraced the 20-year-old before whispering into her ear. Osaka revealed on the talk show what the 23-time grand slam winner told her.
“She (Serena) said, like, that she was proud of me and that I should know that the crowd wasn’t booing... at me. So I was really happy that she said that,” Osaka said on the show.
Osaka, who is of Japanese and Haitian descent, defeated Serena Williams 6-2, 6-4 to become the first Japanese player to win a grand slam. The final was marred by Serena's verbal argument with the umpire over code violations handed to her. The crowd had booed during the trophy presentation over the controversial turn to the final, casting a cloud over Osaka's shining moment.
“At the time, I did kind of think they were booing at me ’cause I couldn’t tell what was going on because it was just so loud in there, so it was a little bit stressful.”
Degeneres went on to ask Osaka about what she would do with her USD 3.8 million prize money, to which the young tennis player said she would get her parents a big TV on which they could watch The Ellen Degeneres Show!
Osaka also timidly revealed her celebrity crush―Black Panther actor Michael B. Jordan. Degeneres proceeded to text the actor and sent him a selfie with Osaka, who continued to coyly tell the talk show host not to do so.
“You stress me out. I'm too young to be stressed out like this,” Osaka said.
Degeneres also gifted Osaka a 4K TV as per the champion's wish to get her parents a TV.
Later, in response to Degeneres' text, actor Michael B. Jordan, sent a video congratulating Osaka on her achievement, and the talk show host posted it on her Twitter account.
In the video, Jordan says, “Hey Naomi. It's Michael B. I just wanted to say congratulations. Ellen hit me up and told me she was having you on the show. So, I wanted to send my love and support, and just say congratulations. It’s a big moment for you. The way you carry yourself with such humility and grace, it’s really amazing to see. You’re setting an amazing example for the kids. Little boys and girls that are looking up to you. Continue to work hard. A lot of times, you know, when you’re on this journey, a lot of people don’t see the process. They just see the end results. And just know that all the hard work, the blood, sweat, and tears, that you have put into the sport, that you have put in the journey, that people are finally able to see. And that’s a big thing... to be proud of. So, I just wanted to say, again congratulations. Keep doing great. Everybody’s watching out.”