Naomi Osaka is a two-time Grand Slam winner and former World No.1
Naomi Osaka shared a throwback video of her playing tennis with late basketball legend Kobe Bryant.
Osaka, who in the past has expressed her love and respect for Bryant on several occasions, was once again at it.
She posted an old video alongside him on her Twitter profile.
Bryant, a legend of the game and five-time NBA championship winner had passed away recently along with his daughter Gianna and seven others following a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California.
It was a moment of grief as the whole sporting community mourned the death of the 41-year-old. Messages and posts offering him condolences overflowed across all social media platforms in remembrance of the former NBA star.
He wasnβt THAT bad at tennis ππ©ππ haha love you bro. pic.twitter.com/xn1QgFBfsH
β NaomiOsaka倧εγͺγγΏ (@naomiosaka) February 24, 2020
Meanwhile, Osaka, in a throwback of sorts, recently put up a video of her playing against Bryant in her Twitter page with the caption: βHe wasnβt THAT bad at tennis ππ©ππ haha love you bro.β
Osaka, who is an avid social media user soon attracted replies to her throwback post as fans and followers of the Japanese star soon started responding by replying to her post. Here are a few of them:
https://twitter.com/ThatOneMoFlo/status/1232074800102699009
hahaha awwww ππ i still remember seeing this online like it was yesterday
β Ana (@thegreatestana) February 24, 2020
You never stop encouraging people β€οΈβ€οΈ
β Jojo (@jojo_cj_) February 24, 2020
I was so excited when you posted that you had met him. Saw him in the stands watching you play. I just knew he was going to impart some Mamba wisdom and show you how to get to the next level in your attacked the game from a mental standpoint. #ReachingBack
β AViewFromTracysPoint (@AVFTP1) February 24, 2020
Wow ! You are blessed πͺπͺπͺπππππ
β chriselda makhubela (@chriseldamm) February 25, 2020
Osaka stays tenth in new WTA rankings
Meanwhile, 22-year-old Osaka still stays as World No.10 despite changes in ranks to some of the players in the recently put out list.
The list had seen many including the likes of Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin and American teenage sensation Coco Gauff and many others see a rise in their ranks.
However, Osaka, who has been out of form recently with a string of poor performances in recent matches has managed to stay in the top-ten.
Osaka had failed to defend her Australian Open title earlier this year after losing to teenager Gauff. This had seen Osaka, who began the year ranked No.4 fall to 10th place in the rank standings.
The loss against Gauff was followed by another average display at the Federation Cup Qualifiers that happened earlier this month. In the singles, Osaka lost to a lower-ranked opponent, Spainβs Sara Sorribes Tormo.
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