Despite cutting an anxious figure in front of media in Brisbane, tennis star Naomi Osaka says she feels no pressure being the hunted ahead of her 2019 Australian summer of tennis.
The reigning US Open champion had been clearly nervous nursing wildlife at a photo opportunity at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.
The 21-year-old was out of her comfort zone holding Sprocket the koala – especially after it used the photo opportunity to relieve itself – and feeding kangaroos in a break before the Australian Open warm-up event.
It was Alinta, a 3m olive python, which had the Japanese star entering brave new territory.
Despite asking if Alinta could smell fear, it didn’t stop her from nursing the huge reptile, happily crossing off a bucket-list item.
“I’ve always watched things like Animal Planet and Discovery Channel so I’ve always wanted to do things like this but I’ve never really had a chance,” Osaka said. “It’s very interesting.”
Osaka will be looking to build on a breakout 2018 in which she captured her maiden WTA title in Indian Wells before scaling the Grand Slam summit in New York.
She said she would be comfortable in the limelight despite no longer being able to fly under the radar.
The Japanese star has become hot property after soaring from world No.68 to No.5 in 2018, beating Serena Williams in the final Flushing Meadows.
“I never feel pressure to perform. I enjoy Grand Slams the most,” said Osaka, the first Japanese major winner.
“I always feel there is a certain degree of pressure but it’s from myself.”
Asked if she had finally had her head around being a Grand Slam champion heading into the new season, Osaka said: “Right now I have, now that you have asked me that question.
“But I definitely accomplished a lot of things that I wanted ever since I was growing up.
“Hopefully, I can do better this year. I will see how it goes.”
Osaka has already ticked off another bucket-list item after touring the wildlife park, throwing in a session holding a python along the way.
It’s been a very different festive season for the Florida-based Osaka who admits she had only experienced Australia’s fauna from the safety of her lounge room at home.
Osaka – one of three first-time female Grand Slam champions in 2018 – arrived in Australia on Christmas Eve to prepare for the Brisbane International, which starts with Kids Tennis Day on Sunday.
“For me, I really love coming to Australia every time and I always seem to do well here so I would like to do well in the first tournament (in Brisbane),” she said.
Osaka – rated by great Chris Evert as the leader of the next generation in women’s tennis – will get an idea of just how far she has come when she contests the Brisbane International as the second seed.
The last time she contested the event was in 2016 as an 18-year-old qualifier.
Tickets to the Brisbane International are on sale via Ticketek.