"I saw Novak Djokovic screaming" - Naomi Osaka reveals how the Serb impacted her at Australian Open 2025

Naomi Osaka said that she drew inspiration from 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic ahead of her first-round win against Caroline Garcia at the Australian Open 2025.

Djokovic, who has a record 10 Australian Open titles to his name, made a surging comeback from being a set down to beat American teenager Nishesh Basavareddy at the Rod Laver Arena on Monday.

Osaka, who was due to play Garcia in the next match on the center court, said that she was inspired by how the Serbian pulled himself back into the match after the initial setback. Addressing the media in the post-match press conference, Osaka said:

“On Djokovic’s side, it was so cool how he’s so determined to win all the time. I saw him screaming, ‘Come on’. Yeah, I try to focus a lot like that, as well.”

Naomi Osaka took a leaf out of Djokovic’s book as she came back from a set down to beat Karolina Muchova 1-6, 6-1, 6-3 in the second round on Wednesday. With that, she has gone one step further than last year when she made a first-round exit.

Naomi Osaka celebrates her win over Karolína Muchova at the 2025 Australian Open. Source: Getty

The two-time Australian Open champ will next face Belinda Bencic, a fellow mother who is making a comeback to the Tour after giving birth to her daughter, in the third round. Osaka, too, had taken a year off the circuit after giving birth to her daughter in 2023.

Naomi Osaka's doppelganger spotted at Australian Open 2025

Naomi Osaka seemed to have found a doppelganger at the Melbourne Major in Australian tennis player Destanee Aiava. The 24-year-old came through qualifying and defeated Greet Minnen in the first round of the Australian Open.

However, many fans mistook Aiava for Osaka, much to the Australian’s surprise. She went on X to say she loved Osaka but was confused as to why people were mistaking her for the American.

"why are people commenting and mistaking me for Naomi Osaka (i love her don’t come for me) like i’m genuinely confused why multiple people are getting me mixed up with her ???????????"

Aiava, who is into the second round of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career, will face 10th-seeded Danielle Collins in the second round.

While Osaka and Aiava are unlikely to face in the early stages of the tournament, it would be interesting to see their reactions if they run into each other at Melbourne Park.