via Getty
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 08: Serena Williams (R) of the United States comforts Naomi Osaka (L) of Japan after Osaka won the Women’s Singles finals match on Day Thirteen of the 2018 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 8, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images for USTA)
via Getty
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 08: Serena Williams (R) of the United States comforts Naomi Osaka (L) of Japan after Osaka won the Women’s Singles finals match on Day Thirteen of the 2018 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 8, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images for USTA)
Serena Williams spent above two decades reigning on top of the tennis world. Starting her career in 1995 as a pro, the American has seen different types of people and even shift in her form. The experienced one shared her thoughts over the recent Naomi Osaka heckling incident. at Indian Wells. The American star was talking to Bloomberg on various topics and gave her views on the fan’s awkward comment.
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Naomi Osaka faces heckling in the Indian Wells 2022
Four-time grand slam winner Naomi Osaka had a bad start to the 2022 season as she lost her third-round match against Amanda Anisimova in the inaugural slam. She took a break for a while and participated in Indian Wells, but a drunken fan made her experience very painful.
USA Today via Reuters
Mar 12, 2022; Indian Wells, CA, USA; Naomi Osaka (JPN) wipes her face as she talks to referee Claire Wood after a spectator disrupted play, yelling Naomi you suck, before the start of her 2nd round match against Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) at the BNP Paribas open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
She was playing her second- round match in California but a particular fan shouted at her, “Naomi you suck”. Though Osaka got fan support from other spectators, she was visibly upset about and it cost her the entire match against Veronika Kudermetova.
Serena Williams gave her insights on the incidence
When the interviewer at Bloomberg asked Serena Williams about the recent incident.
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“Yeah, I saw that. I thought that everyone is different. I always say this, everyone is different. It’s sport. I know a lot of a people in sport, whether it’s football. I know, in basketball, I mean, shooting a free throw with all the noise and all the angry words of the fans.”
Serena’s comparison was spot on as basketball and football players also face similar heckling on many occasions. But, she insisted that it is part of the sport and players have to keep going in those adverse situations.
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LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – AUGUST 13: Serena Williams serves during her match against Venus Williams during Top Seed Open – Day 4 at the Top Seed Tennis Club on August 13, 2020 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
The American legend continued, “I mean, I have been around when people have been really mean and you just kind of have to understand that that’s their opinion and just, it’s a free world and everyone will have their opinion.” Serena Williams further added that players need to keep their minds on the game and look to overcome it strongly.
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