On Monday she tweeted from aboard her international flight, ‘See you in 16ish hours Australia!’
And Naomi Osaka finally touched down in Melbourne on Tuesday, with the tennis star seen crossing the tarmac in the same attire she wore on her long haul flight.
The 24-year-old donned a red hoodie bearing Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic art work, the Mona Lisa.
Flight wear: Naomi Osaka finally touched down in Melbourne on Tuesday, with the tennis star seen crossing the tarmac in the same attire she wore on her long haul flight
The Japanese athlete paired the arty garment with grey tracksuit pants and carried her bags with her.
Naomi covered her face with a black face mask as she and her entourage left the plane.
Her hair was styled into tight blonde curls that cascaded across the four-time Grand Slam winner’s shoulders.
Mona Lisa smile: The 24-year-old donned a red hoodie bearing Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic art work, the Mona Lisa
Sweating it out: The Japanese athlete paired the arty garment with grey tracksuit pants and carried her bags with her
Germ-free: At one point she stopped at a table and made sure to sanitise her hands
At one point she stopped at a table and made sure to sanitise her hands.
Not sighted among her flying companions was Naomi’s beau, Cordae.
Naomi has been dating her rapper boyfriend for roughly two years, having had their first date at a pro basketball game where the Los Angeles Clippers played.
Masked up: Naomi covered her face with a black face mask as she and her entourage left the plane
Good hair day: Her hair was styled into tight blonde curls that cascaded across the four-time Grand Slam winner’s shoulders
Flying solo: Not sighted among her flying companions was Naomi’s beau, Cordae
Osaka’s appearance in Melbourne signals her intention to return to professional tennis after casting doubt over her future in September.
The defending Australian Open women’s champion was dumped out of the US Open in the third round, losing to 18-year-old Canadian Leylah Fernandez.
‘Normally I feel like I like challenges,’ she said during the post-match press conference. ‘But recently I feel very anxious when things don’t go my way. I’m not really sure why it happens.
Back in the game: Osaka’s appearance in Melbourne signals her intention to return to professional tennis after casting doubt over her future in September
Bumps in the road: The defending Australian Open women’s champion was dumped out of the US Open in the third round, losing to 18-year-old Canadian Leylah Fernandez
Anxiety: ‘Normally I feel like I like challenges,’ she said during the post-match press conference. ‘But recently I feel very anxious when things don’t go my way’
‘You could kind of see that. I was kind of like a little kid. I feel like for me recently, when I win I don’t feel happy. I feel more like a relief. And then when I lose, I feel very sad.’
‘I don’t think that’s normal.
She continued, ‘I’m at this point where I’m trying to figure out what I want to do, and I honestly don’t know when I’m going to play my next tennis match. I think I’m going to take a break from playing for a while.’
Temper tantrum: Osaka also felt the need to apologise for her racket throwing, having failed to close out the second set in losing 5-7, 7-6, 6-4
On a break: She continued, ‘I’m at this point where I’m trying to figure out what I want to do, and I honestly don’t know when I’m going to play my next tennis match’
Out of form: Since Osaka began the clay-court season in Europe, her match record is a thin 7-5 and involved a withdrawal from the French Open and missing Wimbledon altogether
Becoming tearful, she departed the room. Osaka also felt the need to apologise for her racket throwing, having failed to close out the second set in losing 5-7, 7-6, 6-4.
‘I’m really sorry about that. I’m not really sure why. I was telling myself to be calm, but I feel like maybe there was a boiling point.’
Since Osaka began the clay-court season in Europe, her match record is a thin 7-5 and involved a withdrawal from the French Open and missing Wimbledon altogether.
On her way: On Monday, she tweeted from aboard her international flight, ‘See you in 16ish hours Australia!’