Osaka's rise may position her as a primary promotional face of the '20 Tokyo Games GETTY IMAGES
Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka defeated Petra Kvitova in the Australian Open final to claim her second straight Gran Slam title, and by doing so "confirmed herself as the game's next-gen superstar," according to Greg Baum of the Melbourne AGE. Osaka is the first Asian to ascend to No. 1 in the world rankings and also the youngest No. 1 since Caroline Wozniacki assumed the status in '10. At just 21, Osaka is the "youthful renewal the men's side of tennis constantly anticipates, but never quite" materializes (Melbourne AGE, 1/27). In Australia, Courtney Walsh writes with Osaka's following in Japan, it "appears certain she will be a primary promotional face" of the '20 Tokyo Games (THE AUSTRALIAN, 1/28). SI.com's Jon Wertheim wrote Osaka "enters a whole new level of celebrity," as women's tennis has a "new star" (SI.com, 1/26). SI.com's Tristan Jung noted much has "been made of Osaka's cross-cultural appeal." She will "almost assuredly" go into the Tokyo Games as Japan's "biggest superstar." Her roots in Florida also "give her an easy path to American stardom." If Generation Z "truly is the age of the Instagram influencer and the personal brand, Osaka is the Chosen One." Her "candid demeanor, easygoing personality and blistering tennis transcend the old ways of stodgy tennis federations and players spouting corporate jargon in lieu of authenticity." She was "not afraid to publicly call out her sponsor Nissin this week for portraying her as pale-skinned in an anime-themed advertisement." Osaka "could succeed" Serena Williams as the "queen of whatever Generation Z becomes" (SI.com, 1/26).
NEW KIND OF STAR: In N.Y., Karen Crouse wrote Osaka's on-court play is "mesmerizing, but take the racket out of her hand and she visibly shrinks from the spotlight." Asked if she was ready to become the face of the Tokyo Games, Osaka said: “Yikes. Hopefully for their sake they don’t do that.” Crouse: "How can they not?" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/27). USA TODAY's Sandra Harwitt wrote while Osaka's "shy, somewhat quirky sense of humor is working for her now," the truth is tennis "grows as a sport when the top players boast dynamic personalities." Harwitt: "Hopefully, as Osaka becomes used to being in the spotlight, she’ll become more comfortable letting the world have a glimpse at who she is" (USATODAY.com, 1/27).
