Naomi Osaka is superstitious about walking during the Australian Open win, just not walking on the field sign
Defending Champion Naomi Osaka no luck needed to win the opening match against Camila Osorio 6-3, 6-3 at the Australian Open on Monday. But that doesn’t stop her from trying to make some.
In a superstitious act that will surely make Rafael Nadal Proudly, Osaka went to great lengths, literally and figuratively, to avoid stepping on the “Melbourne” sign on the field. During the match, she is seen jumping over it and even redoing her steps if she accidentally, ever lightly touches it.
“Every time I come here, I really don’t like to step on the lines or the Melbourne symbol in the back,” Osaka told reporters after the win. “I’m not really sure why that evolved.
Only played in her second tournament since leaving the US Open in September after losing in the third round last Leylah Fernandez, and announced that she would be “taking a break”, Osaka took a 3-0 lead after just seven minutes in the first set. Osorio, the 2019 US Open champion, has finally found the rhythm and made the match competitive, but Osaka’s victory is hardly in doubt. Osaka, the four-time major champion, has recorded 19 winners (with Osorio’s five) and has an 83% win rate on the first serve.
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Naomi Osaka beat Camila Osorio 6-3, 6-3 on the first day of the Australian Open to advance to the next round.
However, she didn’t want to leave anything to chance on the field and later explained that avoiding exposure to signs and dialogue isn’t the only thing she needs to do to feel her best. at Rod Laver Arena.
“I need my water bottles to be completely straight,” says Osaka. “I’m not sure why that is.”
The next Osaka will face the Americans Madison Brengle in the second round on Wednesday.
