'Someone Called Me A Fluke': Osaka Destroys Online Hater With Brutal Message
WTA
Naomi Osaka was one of the best players in the world at her peak, and it's why she didn't take kindly when she was called a 'fluke' as she issued a strong response to that.
Osaka is very active on social media, and while she has periods when she's more active, she's very aware of everything happening. She's also very aware of the narratives surrounding her, and one thing that she heard recently didn't thrill her.
The former World No. 1 player was, at her peak, one of the best players in the world, or as her peak ranking indicates, the best in the world at the time. She was so good on hard courts that people started to compare her to Serena Williams.
While it didn't seem probable that she could equal some of the Williams' achievements, she was starting to look as dominant as the American did on hard courts. Being number one and winning four Grand Slams is certainly proof that she was one of the best players in recent memory.
That's why Osaka didn't take too kindly when she was called a 'fluke' by someone on social media. She responded to the on Threads, which is a social media platform gaining in popularity, and the Japanese player has been very active on it. She reposted her response on her Instagram profile as well.
"I just saw someone call me a fluke. How is it possible to be a fluke with 4 grand slams, lighting the Olympic torch, beating multiple top 20 opponents and being close to top 50 the year after giving birth? Foh, you couldn’t even touch one of my accomplishments with your fingernail."— Osaka dismisses that she's a 'fluke'<br>
Osaka is generally not a player who inserts herself into online discussions, even though she's previously hinted that she's fully aware of them. She's also not known for fiery comments; quite the opposite, she's known as a very soft-spoken individual who doesn't enjoy the spotlight too much.
But over the years, Osaka has matured quite a bit, both as a player and a person. This is likely a product of that growth, as she's now standing up more for herself. She's also become more adept at handling the media side of the job, simply accepting it for what it is.
Fans will be aware that she struggled with that in the past, but it's been good to see this transformation from Osaka, who is hoping to return to her best tennis soon.
She's played fairly solid this year and is slowly but surely getting back to her best level. Most recently, she competed at the China Open, where she reached the fourth round, but she was forced to retire in her match against Coco Gauff.
The 26-year-old also started working with a new coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, who has experience transforming players' fortunes. Osaka is certainly a player to look out for in the coming weeks, especially next year.
