Naomi Osaka breaks down in tears as she shares what happened to her after she won her first US Open

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Naomi Osaka recalled how she felt after winning her first Grand Slam title at the US Open.

The Japanese player stunned the world when she defeated Serena Williams to claim the first of her four majors in 2018.

At just 20 years of age, Osaka battled not only the 23-time Grand Slam champion but also the American crowd who were heavily in Serena’s corner.

She produced some scintillating tennis to defeat Williams for the loss of just six games to triumph at Flushing Meadows.

How did Naomi Osaka feel after winning the 2018 US Open?

Naomi Osaka had plenty to endure during her first Grand Slam final against arguably the greatest player of all time.

The match was marred by Williams’ outburst at the chair umpire, who she accused of being a “thief” and was given a game penalty, before a code violation after smashing her racket.

Osaka was reduced to tears after being subject to boos and jeers by the US Open crowd during the post-match presentation and after the match where she received some negative comments on social media.

During a recent appearance on the Tennis Insider Club Podcast, Osaka explained how this made her feel.

“After I won my first US Open I went on social media and the night after I won, I was doing treatment, and I was just reading a lot of people saying that I didn’t deserve to win,” she said. “I remember I started crying a lot. I still think about it a lot.”

How many times has Naomi Osaka won the US Open?

After going through a difficult period despite the biggest win of her career, Osaka had a more enjoyable experience when she won the US Open for a second time in 2020.

She had a more challenging run to the title as four of her seven matches went to three sets.

While she won the opening set in her three-set battles against Misaki Doi, Marta Kostyuk and Jennifer Brady, she needed to come from behind to defeat Victoria Azarenka in the final.

Osaka lost the first set 6-1, but composed herself to win 1-6, 6-3, 6-3, and triumph in front of an empty Arthur Ashe Stadium at that year’s US Open took place during the coronavirus pandemic.

In 2024, Osaka has targeted the American Grand Slam as a tournament where she wants to hit her peak and try and win it for a third time.