Tennis players travel a lot around the world, playing in different cities all year. As players interact with each other during tournaments, they become friends. The China Open is in Beijing this week and two players have been enjoying their time at the tournament. Japanese star Naomi Osaka and Frances Tiafoe had been goofing around on social media as they prepared to play at the tournament.
Pink shoes and purple shirts
Osaka has been speaking about her friendship with the American player. The two players shared a joke recently about the American’s love for pink shoes. “I’ve been making fun of him the last couple days because he comes, like, to the site with these pink shoes.I was like, Oh, you know, maybe tomorrow I’ll wear my pink shoes.”
The former world number one also posted a video on her Twitter account showing the two players in matching t-shirts during a warm-up at the gym. The 21-year-old dared Tiafoe to wear a purple shirt and to her amazement, he pulled out the shirt which he changed into. “I was just warming up. I was, like, Oh, I have that purple shirt on. Where is your purple shirt? He dug in his pack and somehow found one. It wasn’t like we exchanged shirts.”
Tiafoe and Osaka friendship
The two players appear to be enjoying each other’s company and often hold practice sessions together. They are both 21-years-old and reside in Florida. Tiafoe turned pro in 2015 and is currently ranked 46th on the ATP singles rankings. He has won one singles title in his career at the Delray Beach Open in Florida. The American reached this year’s Australian Open quarterfinals where Rafael Nadal defeated him. He became the youngest American to reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal since Andy Roddick. The American had reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals in 2003 at age 20. Tiafoe achieved a career-high ranking of number 29 in February this year.
The American lost in the first round of the China Open to Alexander Zverev. Osaka, however, won her second-round matchup against German Andrea Petkovic. The world number four is coming off a victory at the Toray Pacific Open in Japan. Speaking about the match, the 21-year-old said she felt confident after her victory in Japan where she did not drop a set on her way to lifting the title. Osaka is hoping to make a deep run in the tournament.
Naomi with @FTiafoe 😁 at 2019 @ChinaOpen 🏋️♀️ @Naomi_Osaka_ #NaomiOsaka #大坂なおみ @WTA @WTA_insider #ChinaOpen #chinaopen2019 #GIF #tiafoe pic.twitter.com/pknX7Z2Xt0
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ GIFs (@NaomiosakaG) September 29, 2019
Osaka in Beijing, ranking, and results in 2019
Ranked no.4, Osaka has a 35-11 win-loss record in 2019. The Japanese is in Beijing where she defeated Jessica Pegula 6-3 7-65 and Andrea Petkovic 6-2 6-0.
Osaka will fight against Riske in the 3rd round. The head to head is 1-0 for Riske.
The last time that they fought against each other, Riske won 7-5 3-2 ret. in the qualifications in Madrid in April 2016.
Osaka conquered 2 titles in 2019 at the Australian Open and in Osaka.
The Japanese won 4 titles in her career: 4 on hard courts. (See the list of her titles)
Naomi Osaka |
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