Tennis phenom Naomi Osaka made a young fan’s day after giving the little girl a one-of-a-kind gift after a match at the US Open this week.
Media cameras caught the sweet moment Osaka handed something to the visibly excited child following her victory against Marie Bouzkova on Tuesday, per Insider. When an interviewer asked the 23-year-old about the moment, she revealed it was a pin she received at the Olympics.
“I just heard her when I was playing my match, and she was so cute, so thank you for cheering me on,” Osaka explained. “In the Olympics, we got little pins that we were supposed to pass around to other players, you know, like trading pins.”
“And I wasn’t there for a long time, so I have a couple in my bag that are leftover,” she continued. “I thought it would be a nice little memory.”
"I just heard her when I was playing my match and she was so cute."@naomiosaka shared a moment with a young fan and gave her an Olympic pin after the match ❤️ 🥺 pic.twitter.com/s9P9qs2dHV
— ESPN (@espn) August 31, 2021
Composer Tim Blacksmith, the girl’s father, later thanked Osaka for making his daughter’s day.
“Dear Sister @naomiosaka, Thank You So Much for Making My Daughters First @usopen Such A Truly Memorable One. Much Love & Blessings,” he wrote on Instagram.
Osaka advanced to the third round of the US Open after opponent Olga Danilovic withdrew from the tournament due to an illness, reported People Magazine. She previously won the women’s singles titles in 2018 and 2020. Osaka made headlines earlier this year when she took a media hiatus to focus on her mental health.
On Sunday, she reflected on “some tennis memories over the past year that mean a lot to me.” In a screenshot from her Notes app, Osaka thanked her supporters for remaining in her corner and admitted she suffers from imposter syndrome.
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Osaka told her followers she is “so grateful for the people around me because the support I feel is unparalleled.”
“Recently, I’ve been asking myself why I feel the way I do, and I realize one of the reasons is because internally I think I’m never good enough.”
Osaka promised to celebrate her wins and encouraged her fans to do the same, big or small.
“I guess what I’m trying to say is that I’m going to try to celebrate myself and my accomplishments more. I think we all should,” Osaka said.
We love a relatable queen.
