Naomi Osaka made the world sit up and notice her when she beat Serena Williams in straight sets in the US Open final.
Of course, it wasn’t just about hitting those blistering winners crosscourt or down the line, and delivering those “body serves” that Williams could do nothing about.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion had another running battle last Saturday with umpire Carlos Ramos, calling him a “liar” and a “thief” after he issued her a code violation for receiving coaching from Patrick Mouratoglou, which she vehemently denied.
Mouratoglou admitted afterwards that he had tried to coach Williams, who said she never saw the Frenchman’s gestures.
On the other side of the net, though, the 20-year-old Osaka kept her cool in her first Grand Slam final to win 6-2 6-4.
But it seems as she had been preparing for the moment for a long time.
A video emerged on Twitter yesterday of a young Osaka setting up a “chopstick competition” with her older sister Mari, where the aim was to see who could place 10 beans into a bowl and then take it out the quickest – with chopsticks!
No prizes for guessing who won…
The shy Osaka tweeted about the video on Thursday: “I always knew this would come back to haunt me. I just never knew when.”
I always knew this would come back to haunt me. I just never knew when 😢 https://t.co/DwWWvnvGMw
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@Naomi_Osaka_) September 13, 2018
But before that, Osaka appeared on The Ellen Show, hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, who tried to set her up with her crush, Black Panther star Michael B. Jordan.
Osaka said on Twitter: “Ok. It’s time for me to leave this planet. Embarrassment level has reached critical stage.”
Ok. It’s time for me to leave this planet. Embarrassment level has reached critical stage #liftoff🚀🚀🚀 https://t.co/NWqQILePVs
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@Naomi_Osaka_) September 12, 2018
Watch the clip below of Osaka on The Ellen Show…
undefinedI texted @MichaelB4Jordan about @Naomi_Osaka_. Obvi he responded. pic.twitter.com/NNwq2iBcaK