Naomi Osaka has expressed admiration for Jannik Sinner, applauding his breakthrough victory over Novak Djokovic en route to winning the Australian Open and hailing his distinctive marketing approach with the fan club ‘Carota Boys.’
Sinner, the 22-year-old Italian, made headlines by becoming the first player to defeat Djokovic in an Australian Open semifinal, eventually winning his maiden Grand Slam singles title. Osaka, who is preparing for the Abu Dhabi Open, revealed that she and her coach, Wim Fissette, were keeping an eye on Sinner’s progress.
“Before the Open started, I was talking to Wim about Sinner, so I feel like in a way we both kept tabs on him,” Osaka shared. “Honestly, it was really exciting to watch. Just seeing him beat Djokovic was really signaling that the young guys are really out here.”
Osaka also commended Sinner’s unique marketing approach and the creation of his fan club, the ‘Carota Boys,’ which has made him stand out in the tennis world.
“From a marketing standpoint, it’s really cool how he’s able to separate himself and kind of, with the carrot and everything. The story is kind of funny to me. I think it’s just really cool how he’s made himself very identifiable,” Osaka added.
Sinner, who is expected to return to action at the Rotterdam Open starting on February 11, gained widespread recognition for his hard-fought victory against Djokovic. The Italian acknowledged the challenging nature of the match and reflected on Djokovic’s performance.
“It was a very, very tough match,” Sinner noted. “I started off really well. He missed for two sets. I felt like he was not feeling that great on court. I just tried to keep on pushing.”
Novak Djokovic, while acknowledging a subpar performance, emphasized that one tournament does not define his overall career. The loss ended Djokovic’s 33-match win streak at the Australian Open, but he remains determined and focused on the upcoming season.
“This tournament hasn’t been up to my standard or criteria or the level that I would normally play or expect myself to play, but doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s the beginning of the end, as some people like to call it. Let’s see what happens in the rest of the season,” Djokovic remarked.
Sinner’s victory over Djokovic marks a significant milestone in his career, and his distinctive marketing strategy has added an extra layer of recognition within the tennis community, earning praise from fellow players like Naomi Osaka.