Naomi Osaka's Unlikely Serving Model: Nick Kyrgios
Naomi Osaka’s Unlikely Serving Model: Nick Kyrgios
After Naomi Osaka defeated Angelique Kerber on Thursday to reach the third round of the Miami Open presented by Itau, she cited an unlikely source as someone who helped with her serve: Nick Kyrgios.
“I have been working on my serve a lot with [coach] Wim [Fissette], because apparently before I didn’t put my two feet together, so he’s been telling me to be very balanced and put my two feet together,” Osaka said. “And I hit with Nick [Kyrgios] in LA, and I was watching his form from very close up, and he does this slide thing and then he puts his two feet together and [that] helps him explode more. I have been really focussing on that part of my technique.
“I think it’s working out pretty well, because I think I have a better rhythm now than I did before, especially like with the wind and stuff.”
Kyrgios on 3 March posted on Instagram a video of himself serving with Osaka sitting along the baseline to examine the Aussie’s technique.
“Analysing my serve to find any small detail,” Kyrgios wrote in his caption. “Her hunger to learn was pretty epic to see from a champ like her.”
The 26-year-old, who will play Andrey Rublev on Friday on Miami, hit 12 aces and did not face a break point in his first-round victory against Adrian Mannarino. If the Australian upsets Rublev, he will likely have a big serving day.
“I feel confident. If I’m serving well and I’m playing well from my backhand, I can beat anyone,” Kyrgios said. “And everyone knows that.”