After beating Elsa Jacquemot in straight sets at the first round of Wimbledon, Naomi Osaka sat down for a press meet, proudly sporting a Haitian jersey in tribute to her paternal heritage and to Haiti’s National Football Team, Les Grenadiers. Osaka also admitted to feeling proud of Haiti despite Brazil eliminating them from FIFA.
During the press conference, when asked if she watched any of Haiti’s FIFA matches this year, Osaka said yes. She highlighted her pride of being half Haitian while also expressing regret for not being able to catch Haiti’s match against Brazil due to being in preparation for her Bad Homburg Open.
“I did, and then I was also really sad because the Brazil match is the one that I really wanted to watch, but it was 2 A.M. in Germany, so I couldn’t watch it live, but I felt really proud of them,” she said (8:00).
The exchange then ended lightly when the reporter pointed out that Japan is beating Brazil, to which Osaka replied with a smile, saying:
“I know, that’s why I’m answering quickly.”
Credit: Wimbledon (Official YouTube)
Japan, however, failed to remain dominant after Brazil secured a 2-1 comeback by the end of the game and took home the win to advance to the Round of 16.
Haiti made its first FIFA appearance since 1974; however, it became the first country to be eliminated from FIFA this year after suffering back-to-back losses, most notably against Brazil.
Naomi Osaka’s Japanese-Haitian Connection
Naomi Osaka was born in Japan to her Haitian father, Leonard François, and Japanese mother Tamaki Osaka. The family moved to the United States when Osaka was just three years old, and soon after, she began playing tennis under her father’s guidance.
Despite the mix, Osaka was allowed to keep her mother’s last name and has represented Japan in her tennis career after having famously renounced her dual citizenship to fully vow her allegiance to Japan.
Osaka has nonetheless always made sure to highlight her mixed heritage and, during her on-court and scheduled press meets, has consistently spoken about her love for her Haitian connection.
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