- Please welcome, Naomi Osaka.
(upbeat music)
Yeah, yeah.
Well, let me ask you, what was the first thought
that ran through your head when you won.
- Well, I dunno, I still felt
like the match was still going.
So, I just thought, that I didn't really think it was real.
- Let me ask you this, were you nervous?
(applause)
I mean, you were playing your lifelong idol,
Serena Williams, and you even said that.
Were you nervous to play her?
- Well no, because I've played her once before,
I just think since it was the Grand Slam final
that it felt like a different experience.
- Yeah.
Did you know that you made some amazing shots?
(applause)
No, Naomi, see you don't understand.
For me, you know, I can't play tennis at all.
I mean, at all.
I watched the entire match, because I love championships.
You made some shots where, even Serena,
gave you a round of applause for some of the shots you made.
- I didn't know it at the time, but.
- You didn't know it at the time.
- Hearing you say it feels really good,
so, thank you.
- Yeah.
(applause)
And, now, during the ceremony,
the ceremony brought you to tears.
What were you feeling at that moment?
- Like, really happy because, Serena,
she told me some stuff, and I hugged her.
I've always wanted to hug her, I know that sounds weird.
- That don't sound weird to me.
Did she say something encouraging to you, was it funny?
- No, it was just like, she was saying, like,
she was proud of me.
And for me that's just something
I never thought I would hear,
because I grew up watching her.
So, just, for her to even acknowledge, that I'm,
like, my existence, I dunno.
That just felt, like, really surreal.
- No, I thought it was such a classy ceremony,
that Serena first acknowledge you the win.
Because, you know, all that had went on during the match,
that was a whole news story, we're not gonna get into that.
But I'm talking about, after the match was over,
when you all were about to receive your trophy,
she told the audience,
" No, this is her first Grand Slam championship,
"and she played her heart out,
"and she deserves everybody's love and respect".
I thought that was so cool for her to do that.
You know.
She wasn't up there being bitter, because,
I mean, you finna break a lot of records.
(applause)
Yeah, yeah, you gonna break a lot of records.
You gonna major.
I heard that your father was your first coach.
How did he feel about your win?
- Well, he didn't really say anything.
He just said that he was really happy,
and he was proud.
But honestly, it felt better coming from Serena.
(laughing)
(applause)
- Yeah, Dad, it was nice, Dad, it was good and dry.
I think you're a really, really nice person.
You're very shy, stay that way.
I think you're just a fabulous player,
and I wanted to put you on my show and say that to you.
That what you did was outstanding,
and you deserved to be really touted for that.
And really critical.
Because that was a great performance, young lady.
Congratulations!