Une tenue fashion et une grande victoire. Que demander de plus ? La double gagnante de l'US Open en 2018 et 2020, Naomi Osaka, était opposée, dans ce qui était l'affiche de la journée de mardi, à la numéro 10 mondiale, Jelena Ostapenko. Un match à sens unique où la Lettone n'a pas pu existé tant Osaka a imposé une cadence infernale. Impériale au service avec 9 aces et 80% de points gagnés derrière sa première, l'ancienne vainqueure de l'US Open s'est imposée 6-3, 6-2. C'est sa première victoire sur une Top 10 depuis plus de 4 ans. Une libération pour celle qui avait sorti le grand jeu côté tenue. Avant de défier Karolina Muchova, Osaka est revenue sur les choix de ses tenues et le côté positif que cela amène.
Vidéo : @USOpen
Vidéo : @USOpen
Category
🥇
SportTranscription
00:00Um, I mean, for me, I felt, um, I don't know, like, I really respect her as a player.
00:12So I kind of knew that I had to play really well from the very, very first point.
00:16So I just tried to do that.
00:19Yeah.
00:20Okay.
00:21Good enough.
00:22Congratulations.
00:23We have a big room.
00:24Name and affiliation.
00:25One question each.
00:26I'll get to as many as I can.
00:28Okay.
00:30Name and affiliation.
00:31City with the Colby.
00:32Name and affiliation, please.
00:33Tyrell Johnson rolling out.
00:34City with the Colby jersey on.
00:36You were also at Nick's Madness.
00:38Wanted to know what you remember about him coming here to see you play five years ago.
00:45Um, I mean, I guess, um, I kind of played on the same court today.
00:54Um, Louis Armstrong was the court that, um, he came and watched my match.
00:58And I honestly remember being a little bit in disbelief that, um, he was coming specifically
01:04to watch my match and, um, just to feel that support was unreal.
01:08And I think for me, um, I always wear Colby jerseys after matches and practices because
01:14I feel like a little bit like I can kind of keep his spirit with me.
01:21And later right here.
01:23One question.
01:25Um, Lucy from Blackswing Global.
01:28Um, I know as many of your best matches this year since you've been back, um, have been
01:33against, let's say, top players, whether they're Grand Slam champions, um, seeded players.
01:39Do you feel more motivated during those matches or does that naturally come to you?
01:43Um, I mean, I would definitely say I'm not sure if it's motivation or if I feel like
01:49I have no other choice but to play well.
01:52And then it gets rid of all the expectations and all the pressure I put on myself, um,
01:58because I know like no matter what, the tennis is going to be really great tennis, even if
02:02I win or lose.
02:03So, um, that's kind of my mindset whenever I play, like seeded players are really good
02:10players.
02:11David.
02:12Hi Naomi.
02:13David Kane, tennis.com.
02:14I have another fashion question for you.
02:16We saw a preview of the night outfit before the tournament, we got to see the day.
02:19Today, I'm just curious if you could speak to the inspiration specifically with the headphones.
02:22I'm told it's a Harajuku inspiration.
02:25Yeah, it is.
02:26Um, I've, well, Yoon is so nice.
02:30She was, um, she accepted doing this project and we've kind of been like talking about
02:35it for a few years now.
02:37So just to be able to like wear it and see it come to life and see that people are excited
02:43to see it.
02:44Um, yeah, it's really cool.
02:45But it's, yeah, based on Japanese and Harajuku culture.
02:49Ava.
02:50Ava Wallace, Washington Post.
02:51Naomi, I also wanted to ask you about the fit, the color.
02:55When did you choose?
02:56Because that's been the color of the summer.
02:57So I want to know when you, when that was decided, but also has you kind of been speaking
03:02about feeling more like yourself on court and obviously you mentioned the out-of-body
03:05thing.
03:06Does being able to have a hand in the fashion aspect of it help you with that at all?
03:10Is there any connection there?
03:11Um, well, I chose the color like at least a year ago, so, um, yeah.
03:19Um, but yeah, I mean, I definitely love to be involved in everything that I do, whether
03:24it's fashion or anything else.
03:26But, um, I feel like being able to be a part of my tennis outfits gives me, I would say
03:34a different strength, especially the U.S. Open outfits.
03:37I feel like they're a little bit more flamboyant.
03:39And, um, when I was putting on my outfit today, I was like, ah, I hope this isn't too
03:45much.
03:46Um, cause like I had the tutu and then I had the bow jacket and it was green and I feel
03:54like everyone was staring at me funny.
03:56Um, and then I put the headphones on, that was a real killer, but, um, yeah.
04:02But then I was like, you know what?
04:04this maximalist style, um, and then it made me feel better.
04:08Like another player came up to me and asked to take a picture.
04:12So I hope it was like, you know, positive picture wasn't like, wasn't like, oh my God,
04:17look at her.
04:18Um, but yeah, I think for me when I put on the outfit, it's almost like a super suit.
04:23So I try to channel that.
04:25Gentleman in the middle.
04:27Uh, yeah.
04:28I know Victor Longron for the Keep.
04:30Have you ever been so emotional after a victory?
04:32What does represent this specific victory?
04:35Um, you know, I would say yes.
04:39And it was probably on the same exact court.
04:41So maybe it's that court that does something to me.
04:43Um, the first US Open that I won, I played Sabalenka in the round of 16.
04:50I remember I cried really hard after that because I was having my like barrier of, I
04:56couldn't get to the like round of 16 or their quarters or I think it was the round of 16
05:01though.
05:02But yeah.
05:03Um, it was funny though.
05:05I feel like, um, I cried a lot more now than I did like winning slams.
05:13So that's a little funny, but yeah.
05:14Courtney, Naomi, in terms of all the work that you've had to do, you know, the last
05:21eight months to get you a performance like that on this stage at this tournament that
05:25you were targeting, when you think back on all that, and I'm sure it's tons of stuff
05:29that we don't even know that you've kind of had to fight through and work on, what stands
05:33out to you in terms of what was the key over all these past months of building up to be
05:39able to play a match like you did today?
05:41Um, I mean, I think definitely experience.
05:44I'm really glad that I played all of the tournaments this year.
05:48Um, even though the results haven't been that great, I feel like I could draw from each
05:52of those matches.
05:53And, um, over time, I know even though I lost in the qualies of Cincy, um, I, I kind of
06:00gained confidence in my way in, in myself in a weird way, because for me that was like
06:05the worst possible outcome of my career.
06:07Um, granted I could have lost in the round before that.
06:10So, um, but yeah, I just, I don't know.
06:15It's been so much hard work, so much, um, like dreams and wishes and, um, I hope that
06:21I can continue.
06:22But as of right now, I am really happy with how I played.
06:26Okay.
06:27Willie.
06:28Focusing on that, what is the feeling that you get from being at this level and how would
06:34you compare it to any match you've played since you've returned?
06:38Um, that's an interesting one just because I feel like for me, this court is my home.
06:45Like it gives me so much more confidence.
06:48Like I step on the court knowing that I probably have the most wins in the field, maybe.
06:54I don't know.
06:55Like, uh, please don't.
06:56I don't know.
06:57Um, but like, you know, like having two wins here means a lot.
07:02And I think for me, I've been struggling with confidence throughout the year and this, this
07:07time now forces me to like look in the mirror and say like, Hey, like you've done really
07:12well here.
07:13There's no reason why you can't do well again.
07:16Um, I, I just tried to channel that today.
07:19Gentleman right here.
07:21Charlie Eccleshire from The Athletic.
07:23I just wondered if you were asked there about the emotions after and whether it was your
07:27most emotional one, but just what exactly was it that was kind of, that you were thinking
07:31about?
07:32Was there something that kind of tipped you over the edge with the tears?
07:36Um, yeah, I mean, honestly, it's like a combination of a lot of different things.
07:42I grew up here.
07:43So, you know, just seeing kids like, and then remembering my daughter, but seeing kids coming
07:48and watching me play and just remembering that I was a kid, I guess a long time ago,
07:54um, made me very emotional.
07:57And then also just remembering that I came and watched Coco play her semis and I was
08:04in the audience and I didn't know if I was going to be able to play again at this level
08:09just to play Ostepenko, who's such a great player and win that match means a lot to me.
08:14And then, um, yeah, just seeing the stadium really full, it meant a lot because I was
08:21like, oh, I hope people come watch me play.
08:23We have two more in English, Tamani and then Barbara.
08:26Hi Naomi, congrats.
08:27You mentioned that you've been struggling for confidence this year.
08:30Just curious, where did, I guess, that come from and what that struggle has been like?
08:35And also just separately, do you remember, there's like a picture going around of you
08:38and Mari watching Rafa.
08:40Oh yeah.
08:41Do you remember?
08:42Yeah.
08:43Um, honestly the US Open time was like the best moments for me as a kid because it's
08:49like the moments where the people you watch on TV, you can see them in real life.
08:54So, um, yeah, I just remember going into the Nissan Quest that we had and like sliding
09:00the door and like being so pumped to like get to see all my favorite tennis players.
09:05But I don't remember the picture being taken.
09:08Um, but I remember like watching them practice and, okay, um, I would say confidence.
09:21Honestly, I went into Australia with a lot of confidence because it's a hard court.
09:26Um, and, uh, you know, like it didn't go my way there.
09:30And obviously I don't know clear grass that well.
09:34So it kind of shook me up a lot.
09:36And, um, I wish I could have done better in Toronto and Cincy.
09:41And now I feel like I'm just here.
09:43It's almost the end of, well, it is the end of the year, but I told myself like I would
09:48make like my last stand, um, if I could in the US Open and the Asian swing.
09:54So, um, yeah, it's almost like you have a deadline and you're crunching at midnight
10:00to try to make it.
10:02Barbara, last question in English.
10:04Naomi, I just wondered, you know, you talked about how it's sort of like your superpower,
10:09you know, wearing a fashion statement.
10:11Does it, does having a fashion statement like that and having people look at you and it's
10:16kind of cool, does that help you make a statement on the court?
10:19I mean, I mean, drawing that attention and does it give you kind of confidence or not?
10:23Or they're not related at all?
10:25I mean, today it didn't just because I was so focused on my match, but I do like, I do
10:31remember thinking like, I need to win this match so I can wear my other color.
10:35Um, that was very important to me.
10:39So yeah, I guess you'll see my other color next time.
10:43Thank you, everyone.
10:44That concludes English.
10:45Yeah.
10:46Japanese.
10:47Yeah.
10:49Congratulations.
10:51So, the Estepeco player, did you want to overpower her?
10:58Or did you want to make fewer mistakes than your opponent?
11:06Why do you think you won?
11:08Um, yeah, I mean, going into the match, I, I realized after Cincinnati that I'm not,
11:16I'm honestly not classifying myself as an aggressive player.
11:21Um, I love to play the game and I love to like, you know, rally and then go for my opportunity
11:29when I have it.
11:30So I think I tried to apply that to, well, that's a lie.
11:33I am an aggressive player, but I'm not like stepping on the baseline trying to whack the
11:38ball every time.
11:39Um, so yeah, I think today I knew that she was definitely one of the best aggressive
11:45players in the world, but, um, I didn't want to give her all the room to do that.
11:54Um, so I just tried to.