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Naomi Osaka Explains Why She Apologized While Accepting Her U.S. Open Trophy

On Saturday (September 8), after an incredible whirlwind journey through the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Naomi Osaka took home her first Grand Slam championship trophy by defeating her idol, Serena Williams, in two sets. The 20-year-old’s victory was somewhat tainted, however, by the controversy that arose between Williams and the presiding umpire during the match, which resulted in Williams automatically losing first one point and then an entire game in the second set (punishments that Williams promptly labeled sexist. While receiving her trophy after the match, Osaka was visibly upset and, during her acceptance speech, apologized to the crowd. In an interview with the Today show on Monday morning (September 10), the athlete discussed the controversial match and her ensuing reactions.

Osaka said that, as Williams’ penalties rolled in, she wasn’t entirely sure what was happening. “I didn’t really know what was going on because I went to the back and I had my back turned. And then, before I knew it, she was saying there was a game penalty, so I was a little bit confused throughout the whole thing,” she said. The confusion continued as the match ended and the crowd began booing, presumably at umpire Carlos Ramos. “I felt a little bit sad because I wasn’t really sure if they were booing at me or if it wasn’t the outcome that they wanted,” Osaka said, explaining why she’d pulled her visor over her face to hide her tears as the crowd jeered. “And then I also could sympathize because I’ve been a fan of Serena my whole life and I knew how badly the crowd wanted her to win.” She added, “It was just really emotional.”

Seeing Osaka’s tears during the awards ceremony,Williams put her arm around her opponent and used her turn at the microphone to ask the crowd to celebrate Osaka’s win, rather than decrying her loss, which Osaka said on Monday “made me happy overall.” When it was her time to address the audience, according to The New York Times, Osaka said, “I know that everyone was cheering for her. I’m sorry it had to end like this. I just want to say thank you for watching the match.” When asked on the Today show why she apologized, Osaka explained, “I don’t know, I just felt like everyone was sort of unhappy up there and I know that the ending wasn’t really how people wanted it to be. I know that, in my dreams, I won, like, in a very tough, competitive match. So, I don’t know, I just felt very emotional and I felt like I had to apologize.”

Osaka also noted that, in the wake of her big win, she hasn’t had time to review what happened during the match and come to her own conclusion about what went down between Williams and the umpire, but that she plans to do so as soon as possible. “This is sort of one of the biggest things that happened to me,” she said. And she’s also having some trouble processing that other pretty big thing that happened on Saturday — you know, becoming the first-ever Japanese tennis player to win a Grand Slam title. “It still feels a little bit surreal, but I think it’s slowly sinking in,” she told Today.

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Nicole Kidman Got Subtly Political While Accepting Her 'Glamour' Women of the Year Award

When director Sofia Coppola took the stage to introduce a Glamour Women of the Year honoree and friend (whom she directed in this year’s “The Beguiled”), she described her as “one of the great classic actresses of our era.” Obviously, she was talking about Nicole Kidman. Name a more iconic duo, we’ll wait.

Already an Oscar winner, Kidman won an Emmy this year for her wrenching portrayal as a victim of domestic abuse in “Big Little Lies,” in addition to being a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador.

Upon going up to accept her award, she noted that Coppola was “an example to all of you who want to be female directors that you can do it. Sofia is female power.” And then she turned the spotlight on everyone else in the room and watching at home: “Let’s use this moment to celebrate what makes us, us.” She also gave a touching tribute to her husband Keith Urban, acknowledging that having a strong man on your side can be an asset as good as any other. “As much as I’m a strong woman, I need help and I need support.”

But she ended the night urging people not to seek comfort solely with people who are too much like us. “I truly believe that we must share the good love that we receive whenever we see it’s needed,” she said. “It’s about building bridges, because bridges bring about new adventures and change, and that’s what we need—change.”

Read Nicole’s entire speech, below.

Thank you, Glamour, for this wonderful honor. This has been the most
extraordinary year. I use that word extraordinary in all of its
meanings. We’re in uncharted waters.

But as we take tonight to celebrate—and I bow down to the other
honorees for their phenomenal contributions to art, culture,
exploration, human rights —I want to take a moment to say this is a
celebration of us. What makes us us.

In my household growing up, everyone was equal. Maybe it was because
it was a house full of scientists and academics. Or because it was the
’70s in Australia and it was a time of demonstration and change. I had
a feminist mother, but I also had a father who was supportive and
loving. It was so much about union and support. I was very fortunate
to be the recipient of these parents – supportive, empowering,
encouraging. That was their love…what we call in my home now good
love. And that is something I want to pass along to not just my own
children, but to those around me.

I’m a sister, I’m a mother, daughter, I’m a wife, I’m a career
woman…I’m a mother to four loving children, daughter of a formidable
mother and father and wife of a truly good man. It is who I am, why
I’m standing here tonight. And I am aware that not everybody has been
as lucky as I have been.

As much as we gravitate, with all of this going on in the world, to a
safe place, to the people most like us—the people whose gender,
sexuality, race or politics we share—I’m convinced the galvanization
of all of us together is essential. I truly believe we must share the
good love wherever we see it’s needed.

One of the first things I learned in my work with UN Women to support women survivors of
violence is how critical the solidarity of others is. The feeling that
they are not alone. That there is help. So let’s speak out. Let’s
offer our support and create change. It is about building bridges.
Bridges bring understanding, empathy, bring change…

I feel deeply indebted to the people in my life who made me, me. It
has led me to this point, to this year. To my life and my purpose in
life. I suppose what I want to say is thank you. Thank you for
supporting and embracing me, for allowing me to fail and to fall down
and get back up, brush off my knees, even if they’re bloodied and
fly. Thank you for the good love. I promise to pass it on.

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