Naomi Osaka during her fourth round match in the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden March 12, 2019. — USA TODAY/Reuters pic
Jean insists Osaka's father, Leonard Francois, had signed a contract when he was coaching the 21-year-old and her sister Mari in 2011. Osaka spoke as tournament play began at the Miami Open, being staged at Hard Rock Stadium, home of the NFL's Miami Dolphins, for the first time after decades at Key Biscayne.
“Beating Serena Williams in Miami last year was such a good memory — the first time I had played her — and I came straight off winning Indian Wells. I just wanted to test myself against her and from then on it felt like a dream. Osaka, whose sister Mari was due to face American Whitney Osuigwe in the first round, is on her guard.“Everyone is at the same level so it comes down to who wants it the most and is willing to put in the work,” she added.The US$72 million spent on turning a former Super Bowl stadium into a tennis venue has received good reviews from players.