Naomi Osaka was completely shocked when she learned that basketball legend Kobe Bryant died in a fatal helicopter crash with his daughter Gianna at the end of January this year.
The Japanese sensation had a special relationship with Kobe as she used to call him ‘Big Bro.’ Naomi had the chance to meet Kobe a number of times and the basketball legend used to randomly text Osaka every now and then to know if she was right.
During the semifinal between Serena Williams and Vika Azarenka, Noami was caught watching the match with a Kobe Bryant jersey. That was a lovely way to celebrate her ‘Big Bro.’
.@NaomiOsaka in the stands wearing a Kobe jersey after advancing to the #USOpen final 💛💜 pic.twitter.com/SZmUoXfyYt
— ESPN (@espn) September 11, 2020
Osaka at the U.S. Open, ranking, and results in 2020
Now the world no.9, Osaka has a 15-3 win-loss record in 2020. Osaka is playing at the U.S. Open where she defeated Misaki Doi 6-2 5-7 6-2, Camila Giorgi 6-1 6-2, Marta Kostyuk 6-3 6-74 6-2, Anett Kontaveit 6-3 6-4, Shelby Rogers 6-3 6-4 and Jennifer Brady 7-61 3-6 6-3.
Naomi Osaka will play Azarenka in the final. The head to head is 2-1 for Osaka. Naomi reached the final in New York. The Japanese won 5 titles in her career: all of them conquered on hard courts. (See the list of her titles)
