Naomi Osaka confirmed Wimbledon mixed doubles participation but was coy about whom she will be partnering.
“So I have been really trying to focus on my net game because I’m going to play mixed doubles in Wimbledon,” Osaka said in Madrid. “I know, shocking, right? I’m shocked too.
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“I really don’t want to disappoint the person I’m playing with, because whenever I play doubles I always say, ‘Sorry.’ I’m going to try not to be a liability.”
…any guesses? 😏 pic.twitter.com/XdVJxSs9Gb
— wta (@WTA) May 2, 2022
Osaka, however, refused to reveal her doubles partner.
“If this person sees it and they want to like respond, they can do that,” she said.
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“But I don’t know, isn’t it more fun to kind of see it when it’s around the time? I’m pretty sure if you wanted to guess you could guess who it is.”
Her claim sent social media in a frenzy over her potential doubles partners at Wimbledon.
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Nick Kyrgios, who won the men’s doubles event with Thanasi Kokkinakis at the Australian Open, seemed like the more obvious choice.
Osaka and Kyrgios practised together ahead of the Indian Wells Masters in the USA. The Japanese was reportedly helping Kyrgios with his serve.
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Fans and commentators also speculated her teaming up with Andy Murray or Stefanos Tsitsipas during the Championships.
Osaka lost 6-3, 6-1 loss to Sara Sorribes Tormo in the second round of the Madrid Open on Sunday.
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Though she later revealed that she was hampered by an achilles injury, Osaka brushed off any long-term injury concerns.
