“I always read them and cry”: Naomi Osaka gets emotional over letters from fans ahead of China Open
WTAWednesday, 30 September 2026 at 08:30
Naomi Osaka has never been short of support across Asia, but some of the messages she receives still catch her off guard. Returning to Beijing for the China Open, where she won her second WTA 1000 title in 2019, the four-time Grand Slam champion offered a glimpse into the connection she continues to share with fans across the continent.
Osaka has carried particular significance for Asian tennis for almost a decade. The Japanese star became the first Asian woman to reach world No. 1 and has remained one of the most recognizable players on the continent, making the Asian swing an important part of her season every year.
Beijing is also a tournament with a special place in Osaka's career. She won the title in 2019 by coming back from a set down against then-world No. 1 Ash Barty, claiming her second WTA 1000 title just months after winning the Australian Open. At the time, Osaka was already a two-time Grand Slam champion, and she would add two more major titles with the 2020 Australian Open and 2021 US Open.
Her return to Beijing comes after a strong stretch of results in 2026. Osaka reached the fourth round of the French Open for the first time in her career before making her maiden Wimbledon quarterfinal, highlighted by a straight-sets victory over world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. She then reached the fourth round of the US Open, where her run ended against Elena Rybakina.
“I always read them and cry”
Osaka arrives in Beijing as the No. 12 seed and received a first-round bye. She will begin her campaign in the second round against either Daria Vidmanova or Maria Timofeeva, with another opportunity to make a deep run at a tournament where she has already written one of the most important chapters of her career.
The connection is particularly evident in the letters she receives when she returns to Asia. Osaka said fans regularly leave her presents and handwritten messages, and some of them have affected her more than she expected.
“When I come here, I just feel like they're so grateful that the players come, and they always give such amazing presents and notes," the former world No. 1 said in her pre-tournament interview. "Whenever I come here, people give me letters, and I always read them and cry because they're so touching, so yeah, it's never felt like a burden or anything like that.”
Asked about the reception she receives from fans across Asia, Osaka explained that the support has never felt like an obligation despite the expectations surrounding her status as one of the continent's biggest tennis stars.
“You know, I feel like I've always been really fortunate because, to your point, I've been able to have fans around the world, so it's never felt like one place has more than any other. It's kind of like a melting pot of a community that is really kind to me.”
Osaka's finals since 2021 Australian Open title
| Year | Tournament | Opponent | Result | Score | Opponent ranking |
| 2022 | Miami | Iga Swiatek | L | 4-6, 0-6 | No. 2 |
| 2024 | Auckland | Clara Tauson | L | 6-4, RET | No. 50 |
| 2025 | Montreal | Victoria Mboko | L | 6-2, 4-6, 1-6 | No. 85 |
| 2026 | Bad Homburg | Karolina Muchova | L | 1-6, 0-1 RET | No. 11 |
Osaka looks to build on 2026 progress
The results have given Osaka reasons for optimism despite her US Open campaign ending in the fourth round. She has now reached deeper into several tournaments this season, including two career-first milestones at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, while continuing to search for the consistency that can take her back into contention at the biggest events.
Since winning the Australian Open in 2021, Osaka has reached four finals in Miami, Auckland, Montreal and Bad Homburg, but has lost each of them. Her most recent final ended before it began when she retired ahead of the Bad Homburg championship match against Karolina Muchova because of injury.
That setback was followed by a strong Wimbledon campaign, where Osaka reached the quarterfinals before Muchova defeated her. She then returned to the US Open and made the fourth round, continuing a season in which her level has increasingly produced deeper runs.
“I am happy with the consistency. I think, obviously, from Wimbledon to now, I've reached deeper in tournaments, or more consistently deeper in tournaments than before, so I'm happy about that," the 4-time major champion added. "Obviously, the US Open means a lot to me, so I'm sad I couldn't have gotten further, but I'm hopeful for this swing.”
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There has also been a more personal change in the way Osaka experiences the support around her. Fans who once focused entirely on the former world No. 1 now sometimes arrive with presents intended for her daughter, Shai.
“Honestly, the people that watch me give such good gifts, and now they don't really care about me anymore, they care about my daughter, so they'll give me gifts for my daughter. They'll be like, ‘Give this to Shai.’ I'll be like, ‘Okay, I'm like UPS or something.’”
For Osaka, those gifts have become another part of her relationship with fans across Asia. Now, with the China Open underway and the Asian swing ahead, the focus returns to the court, where the No. 12 seed will look to add another significant result to an increasingly consistent 2026 season.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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