Naomi Osaka continues to thrive at the Rome Open with the former World No.1 picking up her first top 20 win yesterday and backing it with another today. She took down Daria Kasatkina emphatically 6-3, 6-3.
It will be a battle with Chinese talent Qinwen Zheng, Australian Open finalist for a spot in the Quarter-Finals. Yesterday she drew on Nadal, Alcaraz and Rublev and how they inspired her. Today, it was Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova.
She said that both showed that there is a route for hard hitters to have clay court success and that she wants to emulate them. But she said that she doesn't want to watch old Serena matches as like watching Nadal in his final year, it makes her sad. But she said that she now has some homework to study Serena a bit more. Back and thriving and playing well.
"You know there's like a hallway to the gym that has all the champions. I see Serena and Sharapova on there. It makes me very inspired knowing that hard-hitters can play well on clay. Of course, when I was younger, I watched both of them extensively," said Osaka.
"But currently I didn't rewind any Serena tapes 'cause I still feel really sad that she's not here. Especially since Rafa is doing his last, like, hurrah, it makes me feel a bit more sad.
"Honestly, you brought up a good point, so I'll have some more homework today.”
