NEW YORK, NY, USA - For the sometimes shy Naomi Osaka, winning the US Open might have been the easy part as she departed Flushing Meadows for a whirlwind media tour.
The 20-year-old nonetheless managed to show off her quick wit and engaging personality on several of America's morning TV shows like TODAY and Ellen after capturing her first Grand Slam title on Saturday.
Thank you to @TODAYshow for having me on this morning, also thank you for going so kind Savannah and Hoda ❤️ pic.twitter.com/3FmCjtwfzg
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@Naomi_Osaka_) September 10, 2018
Fresh off a stunning victory over 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams, Osaka first stopped at 30 Rock for an interview with TODAY Show hosts Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb to discuss her emotional fortnight in New York.
"I've never been on a talk show before!" she admitted on Monday morning, later joined by men's champion Novak Djokovic. "It still feels a little bit surreal, but I think it's slowly sinking in."
So glad #USOpen champs @Naomi_Osaka_ and @DjokerNole could stop by this morning! pic.twitter.com/uO6NkCCMs4
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) September 10, 2018
Her next stop was with veteran comedian and talk show host Ellen Degeneres, a longtime tennis fan who asked the new World No.7 about her experience of playing Serena on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
"She told me she was proud of me. I was happy that she said that."
Osaka also revealed how she spent those surreal moments between match point and the trophy ceremony.
"I was just reading what I should say for my speech because I'm not very good at talking!"
Degeneres presented Osaka with a brand new TV, texting Black Panther star Michael B. Jordan a selfie after Osaka admitted he was her favorite actor.
While Jordan wasn't on set, she did get a shouout from the actor on Twitter, and also got to meet Lebron James and Channing Tatum backstage:
Check out the full highlights right here on wtatennis.com!