By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday February 13, 2021
Leave it to three-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka to articulate the beauty of Hsieh Su-Wei’s crafty tennis game better than anyone else. She can be shy at times, but when she wants to say something, Osaka says it well.
When discussing her quarterfinal opponent at this year's Australian Open, a player that she has faced four times already, Osaka said the following.
“Have you watched her play? It’s just like what?” Osaka said. “She’s one of those players that, for me if it was a video game I would want to select her character just to play as her, because my mind can’t fathom the choices she makes when she’s on the court, but it’s so fun to watch—it’s not fun to play but it is fun to watch.”
Osaka should know a thing or two about playing Hsieh by now. She has faced her five times (once at ITF level) and won four of those contests, but four of the five have gone three sets. She has always been honest about how difficult she finds the challenge of facing Hsieh.
“Whenever I play, I feel like the racquet or the ball is on my racquet,” Osaka said. “Whenever I play her, there's a bit of hesitation in that mindset for me. So, yeah, it's definitely going to be tough.”