"I get so nervous": Why Naomi Osaka said she could not be friends with Serena Williams

Former world number one Japan’s Naomi Osaka has revealed that it is hard for her to be friends with someone of the stature of America’s Serena Williams.

The 42-year-old is often regarded as the greatest player in the history of women’s singles tennis in the Open era, having won as many as 23 Grand Slam titles.

Osaka, who herself has won four major titles in her career, was recently quoted in a report where she stated that she is still surprised whenever Serena messages her because of her stature and what she has achieved on the court.

"No [I can't be friends with her],” she said. “I would have to win 20 something more Grand Slams to be her peer. She has so many lists of accomplishments, so no way. I have just been very grateful that I am even playing; I have been trying to take every day as a new experience and learn from everything.

"I have this huge respect for her. She is someone that I have looked up to my entire life, so I still feel a bit shocked whenever she reaches out and I don't know; I don't say hi to her or anything. I get so nervous.

“She always seems like she is doing something important, so I don't wanna interrupt and then I really wanna talk to her about life and stuff and like how she manages to do things on and off the court. But, I don't wanna be disrespectful to her and try to talk to her like she is my mentor while she is still playing, so I am kinda just chilling on that.”