Why Naomi Osaka has huge respect for Serena Williams and Ashleigh Barty

Naomi always stands up for her childhood hero

Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams

Naomi Osaka has been competing against the very best in tennis for almost 2 years and right now she has 2 names that she has in high consideration: Serena Williams and Ashleigh Barty.

Naomi and Serena locked horns only 3 times, but it seems almost as they are competing against each other for ages. Like for many players, Serena was Naomi’s childhood hero and for the Japanese beating the American in (that) amazing US Open final was just mind-blowing.

The world no.3 remained a fan of Serena and during a recent interview with The Daily Telegraph, she “defended” the former world no.1 to say:

“I think it is silly to write Serena off. She went to the finals at Wimbledon and the US Open. She is in the top 10 and she has played the least number of tournaments out of every player.

Of course, it is hard to compare because she has had a great career, but I think people are being a bit hard on her. She isn’t just someone that you write-off.”

Respecting Barty

Talking about Ashleigh, Naomi admitted that even if she is one of her toughest rivals, she likes to be around her:

“I think Ash is one of the most nicely talked about players. I don’t really hang around the players’ lounge too often, but she just gives out really good energy. Ash is one of the kindest players.”

Osaka in Shenzhen, ranking, and results in 2019

Naomi Osaka Stats info

Ranked no.3, Naomi has a 40-11 win-loss record in 2019. Osaka ended her run in the round robin after defeating Petra Kvitova 7-61 4-6 6-4.

 

Serena Williams’s ranking and performance in 2019

Serena Williams Stats info

Ranked no.10, the American played her last match on the 7th of September when she had to surrender to Bianca Vanessa Andreescu 6-3 7-5 in the final in U.S. Open.

Serena Williams’s best performance of this year was reaching the final in Wimbledon, Toronto and at the U.S. Open.

Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams played each other 3 times. The head to head is 2-1 for Osaka.

The last time that they competed against each other, Serena Williams won 6-3 6-4 in the quarter of the Toronto (Rogers Cup) THE 09th OF August 2019.

Here the highlights.

 

Ashleigh Barty’s ranking and performance in 2019

Ashleigh Barty Stats info

Currently the world no.1, Ashleigh played her last match on the 3rd of November when she beat Elina Svitolina 6-4 6-3 in the final in Shenzhen to win her 7th career title.

This year Ashleigh has a 52-12 win-loss record. The Australian has won 4 titles in 2019 in Miami, at the French Open, in Birmingham and in Shenzhen. Ashleigh was the finalist in Sydney and in Beijing.

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