Japanese trailblazer Naomi Osaka happy to shine spotlight on ‘big kid’ Kei Nishikori as both reach US Open semi-finals
Pair make history as sport’s new poster girl becomes first Japanese woman in 22 years to reach slam semi after defeating Lesia Tsurenko
Japanese grand slam trailblazer Naomi Osaka said she was happy to share the US Open spotlight with Kei Nishikori, describing her compatriot as “a big kid” in a show of openness which is rapidly transforming the 20-year-old into the sport’s new poster girl.
Osaka, who has been confirmed for the Hong Kong Tennis Open in October, became the first Japanese woman in 22 years to reach the semi-finals of a grand slam when she defeated Lesia Tsurenko 6-1, 6-1 at Flushing Meadows.
However, she insisted that despite her growing profile – and evidence to the contrary – it is Nishikori who is the main driver of Japanese media attention.
“He’s probably one of the nicest people I have ever met. We recently started talking. I think it’s because I was too shy to talk to him before this tournament,” said Osaka of Nishikori, who was runner-up in New York in 2014.
“But then I started talking to him, and I think he was surprised about me talking to him. So, yeah, he’s really cool.”