#文章首发挑战赛#
Naomi Osaka is the star of today's tennis world, and she has won the love of countless fans with her excellent technique, calm mentality, and unique personality. However, her path to growth has not been smooth, and she has experienced various difficulties and challenges such as domestic abuse, coach breakups, sponsorship disputes, etc.
Recently, her new biography, Naomi Osaka: A Journey in Search of Strength and Voice, was published, revealing some shocking insider stories, most notably her father's manipulation of her and her sister's match results, as well as her actions in Serena Williams after the 2018 US Open final.
The father had manipulated the results of the sisters' matches
Naomi Osaka's father, Leonard, was a Haitian-American who met Naomi Osaka's mother, Taimi, in Japan, and the two married and gave birth to Naomi Osaka and her sister Mari Osaka. Leonard had a keen interest in tennis from a young age, and he once imitated the training methods of Serena Williams' father, Richard, in the hope of producing his own tennis champion.
Serena Williams tosses the US Open runner-up trophy into the trash
Naomi Osaka's first Grand Slam title came at the 2018 US Open, where she met her idol Serena Williams in the final. The match was supposed to be a high-level matchup, but it turned into a farce because of Serena Williams' controversy. She was very unhappy about this, believing that she was being sexist and racist. She was furious on the pitch and even threatened the referee saying: "You will never referee my game again, you are a liar, you stole my points, you should be ashamed of yourself." ”
Naomi Osaka was calm and mature in the turmoil, and she was not affected by Serena Williams' emotions and focused on her game, eventually winning the title with a score of 6-2 6-4. However, instead of receiving the respect and cheers she deserved, her victory was overshadowed by Serena Williams' controversy.
At the award ceremony, the audience booed Naomi Osaka, making her feel sad and even apologized, saying, "I know everyone wants to see Serena Williams win, and I'm sorry, but I just did my best." Serena Williams comforted her and said, "You should be proud of yourself, you are a great champion, you should smile, you should enjoy the moment." ”
However, Serena Williams' consolation was not sincere, as she threw the runner-up medal into the trash after the race, where a waiter picked it up and tried to hand it back to her. Williams angrily shouted, "Don't (pick it up), I don't want it!", a scene witnessed by biographer Rosenberg, who wrote in the book: "This is the most disrespectful act I have ever seen, she not only disrespects herself, but also her opponents, and she does not respect the sport." ”
The power and voice of Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka's biography not only exposes her difficulties and challenges, but also shows her strength and voice. After experiencing various problems such as her father's manipulation, coach's breakup, sponsorship disputes, media pressure, and mental distress, she still persevered in her dreams and beliefs and became an excellent tennis player and social activist.
During the 2020 U.S. Open, she wore a different mask with the name of the black victim on it every match to protest racial discrimination and police brutality. She also refused to attend a press conference and withdrew from the tournament during the 2021 French Open in order to protect her mental health. These actions of hers have caused a lot of controversy, but they have also won a lot of support and understanding.
Naomi Osaka is a brave woman who is not afraid of difficulties, does not succumb to pressure, does not pander to public opinion, and uses her strength and voice to fight for dignity and rights for herself and others. Her biography is a book worth reading, it allows us to see a real Naomi Osaka, a story with mixed joys and sorrows, a strong and gentle soul, and a person with strength and voice.