US OPEN

August 29, 2026

Naomi Osaka

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. Welcome to the US Open. You did a little photo shoot earlier this week. What inspired the look? That's how we dress every day.

NAOMI OSAKA: Okay. What inspired it, I feel like I've just been running around the grounds earlier in the morning just before, like, the crowds come in, and I feel like I've also just been exploring places that I've never been to before. And I always feel a little, like, am I allowed to be in here? But we keep getting by.

So I would say we just open doors and kind of like peek in. But also Seb kind of led me into the media room. Yeah, thank you for letting me take photos in your workplace.

Q. Any areas of the grounds that you found to be particularly surprising?

NAOMI OSAKA: Where did we go today? We went to, like, the concession stand, like, into the kitchen. I don't know why they let us go there. Yeah, that's what we did today. The guy was super nice.

It was very clean. I was very -- I mean, I'm not surprised, but it was very clean in there (smiling).

Q. It's interesting, all the different areas you have been going to, but it seems like there's almost a statement of intent this US Open to express yourself and show your personality and also fashion taste and all of that. Is there sort of a bigger picture behind it or is it just something you wanted to do and kind of almost make a statement?

NAOMI OSAKA: I mean, it's interesting. Honestly, like, nothing I do I do it to make a statement. I think it just ends up being that way.

But I literally do the things that I love to do, and I feel like people relate to it, and I'm really glad and grateful for that, because I feel like the type of person I am, a lot of people can see themselves in me. I really, honestly, I love that about myself.

I just think, like, randomly I'll have ideas at 2:00 a.m., and, like, that Michael Jackson clip, or maybe he never said it out loud, but he's, like, Prince is going to steal my idea if I don't act on it.

I feel like that sometimes. Whenever the ideas come in my head, I just really want to do it.

I think for the fashion, I'm really just inspired by Nike is saying it's a basketball theme. So, you know, the NBA and the WNBA have their tunnel walk-ons. I know one year in Toronto they wanted us to do it but it never really took off. So I just felt like New York is a good place to attempt it.

Q. You're wearing an Allen Iverson shirt. What are your thoughts about who Allen Iverson was when he played and who he's been since?

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, for me, he's a trailblazer. I think he's also someone that I look up to a lot, because he's kind of like done a lot in fashion, whether it's on purpose or not, but he's shifted the way that NBA players dress. I also think the whole conversation around clothes in sports and also just expressing yourself through style, I feel like he's someone that I look up to in that regard.

Q. What opportunity have you had to communicate with him, if any?

NAOMI OSAKA: Zero right now, but hopefully he'll see this (smiling).

Q. Sorry to ask about tennis.

NAOMI OSAKA: You're good. That's why we're here.

Q. Your decision to not play Cincinnati. Obviously you've played a ton of matches and won a lot. Did you feel you weren't prepared enough for this one?

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, I do feel like I've played a lot of matches. Honestly, this is the surface that I'm most comfortable with, but I think people forget my main job is to be a mom. This is kind of like my side hustle a little bit. I just happen to be really good at it.

Yeah, my daughter, she needed me to be at home, so, I mean, that's just what I felt was the priority.

Q. Speaking of your daughter, I remember in D.C., you mentioned you would never actively encourage her to go out and play tennis, but if she wanted to, of course you would support her. How do you decide as a professional athlete the approach you're going to take when your child does start showing interest in one thing or seems like she's good at one thing? Were you anti-tennis from the beginning, or...

NAOMI OSAKA: It's not that I'm anti-tennis. I feel like it teaches you a lot. I think there's a lot of characteristics that I have that I like that I know I gained through the sport, and I think sports in general is really good for kids. It teaches discipline and all those other things.

But I feel like for tennis, I don't know, maybe I'm stuck in my ways, but I think it can either go one of two ways: Like, she'd really want to play professionally or maybe not. And I think those are, like, things that I can't control.

But she loves swinging her little mini racquet around, and she actually hasn't been on a real court yet. Maybe I'll update you in a couple of years.

Q. I wanted to ask about your hat. Is it something you had from back in the day or is that something you thrifted?

NAOMI OSAKA: This was a spectacular eBay purchase.

No, I just remember being a kid and loving the US Open merch. Obviously I never got to buy any, but I felt like a good start was the hats. I think, you know, it's, like, the year that I was born, so I just love collecting really cool, like, memorabilia.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in Japanese.

(Naomi's answers to questions in Japanese.)

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, I mean, I really wanted to play mixed doubles with Kei, but I think, you know, he was playing quallies, which is a whole different thing. But I don't know, it just didn't feel like we had enough time, and I had the busiest week ever leading into this US Open, and it didn't feel smart.

Obviously it would have been my dream, like, I don't know, like as a kid, you can only dream of doing things like this, but it sucked that we didn't have enough time to do it.

Yeah. Actually, it's because they asked me, like, from across the stadium, but I just really enjoy moments like that. I think little kids are the future. Not even little kids. Like, whoever, for some reason if someone looks up to me, I think it's kind of my job to also, like, encourage them to continue on and to keep going in whatever field they have.

But in that specific moment, it was little kids with the tennis balls. I don't know. I just remember when I was younger and I was here, and I just can only hope that they continue on.

I mean, my goal this tournament is my goal in every tournament I play. I feel like I always say "hopefully," but I think if I prepare well and do my job, then I will. I don't want to say "hopefully" again, but I will get far. I think I have a pretty good record here, so I can kind of bank on that and use that as confidence.

Yeah, I feel good. I'm coming off of, where were we, Toronto, and that was a pretty good result for me. So, yeah, I guess we'll see what happens.

Yeah, I mean, Alex is really cool. I talk to her, I don't want to say a lot, but I definitely talk a little bit when I bump into her. I really like her. I think she's got a really solid head on her shoulders. She seems so grateful for everything. Obviously she's a great player. It was a good practice today, and she brings such a amazing crowd, like, even for practice.

I think it's really amazing that there is like a new younger generation of Asian tennis players. I hope that everyone does well.

Well, I saw him in the gym, like, three times. The last time I saw him, he was getting ready for a match, but I can't even tell you the conversation I had with him the first time (smiling).

I just feel like he's so humble, you know. Like, he's too kind almost in a way, but also, that's his superpower.

Yeah, that's all I can say about that. He's great. He's awesome, and I hope he plays really well in Japan, yeah.