Naomi Osaka disclosed how ‘shocked and honored’ she was after a fan made a wild request to her at the recently-concluded BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. The Japanese former World No. 1 and four-time Major winner enjoyed a decent run at the WTA 1000 tournament of the prestigious annual hardcourt event, reaching the fourth round before falling to reigning No. 1 and eventual champion Aryna Sabalenka.
During an interaction with her fans in Indian Wells, Osaka came across a woman who desperately wanted the Japanese to sign on her chest so she could get it tattooed. The World No. 16 shared the video of the moment via her Instagram Stories and laid bare how she felt through the caption, writing:
Thanks for the submission!
“First time ever getting this request. I was so in shock and honored. Very grateful for all the love ❤️thank you!”
Naomi Osaka was seeded No. 16 in the women’s singles main draw in Indian Wells this year. Having received a first-round bye, the Japanese won her second and third-round matches over Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva and Camila Osorio respectively. However, reigning No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka proved too hot to handle for Osaka in the fourth round, with the Belarusian registering a clinical 6-2, 6-4 victory.
Things later took a strange turn off the court between the Japanese and the Belarusian regarding the former’s decision to switch talent agencies.
“We’re two different people” – Naomi Osaka after Aryna Sabalenka’s comments on Japanese leaving Evolve for IMG
Aryna Sabalenka seemingly took a swipe at Naomi Osaka after beating the Japanese at Indian Wells. Sabalenka disapprovingly spoke of Osaka’s decision to join IMG after leaving Evolve, the talent agency the Japanese herself co-founded.
“I just feel sorry for her (Osaka) that she moved from Evolve back to IMG. I don’t think that’s a smart decision to do. I’m happy, I’m super happy that all the time that they were kind of like, how you say, balancing between me and Naomi. Now, I’ve got most of the time. I’m happy with that,” Sabalenka said.
Osaka was later quizzed about Sabalenka’s take, and the Japanese replied:
“Was she laughing when she said it? Look, we’re two different people, like, for sure. I think her experiences aren’t the same as mine, and I wouldn’t have it any other way, you know.”
On the tennis front, Naomi Osaka is set to feature next at the 2026 Miami Open.
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Edited by Sudipto Pati
