Halep closes on world number one Osaka

Looking at some of those famous names it’s a kind of miracle that Naomi tops the list.

I hope she can get her groove back, although I honestly wonder. If she doesn't soon, a whole lot of people here will stop considering her Japanese again.

"a whole lot of people will stop considering her Japanese"

Nonsense, but maybe then she would get a congratulatory call from the president of the country where she has lived for most of her 21 years. How often does an American become world ranked #1 in tennis? Not often at all. As for official recognition from Japan, Shinzo Abe congratulated her publicly this year. I think it's clear which country is most invested and supportive of this great young player (hint: not the one led by someone whose name rhymes with the thing on the back of a dromedary).

And if Naomi doesn't keep up her Japanese citizenship going forward, losing some sponsors, why worry? Maybe she has already made enough millions to have fun and be happy like she wants. I think I too would get tired of seeing myself in the media flogging Nissans after a while. Let someone else sell their face to the corporations.

Torafusu, if thats her attitude at 21 she defintely doesnt have what it takes to be a real champion.

Do you want me to debate your inexact phrasing "a real champion"? She won two consecutive Grand Slams, allowing her to clinch world number one in the rankings. What's not real about that? Oh I see, someone has to be #1 for x amount of time to qualify under your unwritten rules. Who on the list of other top women players is the realest of the real champions and what's the reason? How many imaginary bonus points are you awarding for great attitude?

Despite everything, Naomi's talent is real. She will be a champ or a real threat to a champ for a long time.

Get real.

How often does an American become world ranked #1 in tennis? 

While it's been since 2003 that an American man has been ranked #1, since 1973 the United States has actually had the most men rank at #1 compared to any other country.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ATP_number_1_ranked_singles_tennis_players#Number_1_ranked_players

On the women's side, the US is even more impressive, with 3 of the top 4 women's #1s of all time being American, 8 different American women holding the #1 ranking, and almost 3 times the amount of weeks at #1 that the #2 country holds.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_WTA_number_1_ranked_tennis_players#World_No._1_ranked_players

Torafusu, I mean someone who endures in the top position, not just a flash in the pan destined to be a footnote in tennis history.

Torafusu: " As for official recognition from Japan, Shinzo Abe congratulated her publicly this year. I think it's clear which country is most invested and supportive of this great young player"

Wow, it seems I really hit a button there. You're obviously exactly the type of person I was speaking of -- a fan of convenience and entitlement. I pointed out that the Japanese fans will stop bowing to her and feeling pride of nothing THEY accomplished, in her name, and drop her if she doesn't start doing better soon and making them feel more entitled faster, and you fell into it WAY faster than I expected!

" I think it's clear which country is most invested and supportive of this great young player"

Paying a bunch of money to someone so you can toss them away when they are not doing well is not "support". And already people have stopped supporting her. I know people who literally said three years ago "She is not Japanese!" to last year, "I'm so proud of Naomi Osaka!", to not even talking about her now except to say she's "Ha-fu" again. You guys really must just support a player or not -- don't feel entitled to it or that she owes you because of money.

"Nonsense, but maybe then she would get a congratulatory call from the president of the country where she has lived for most of her 21 years."

So, you admit she's not Japanese. Good on you. That's a start. Heck, you can call this groundwork for when you say you never considered her Japanese if she doesn't improve her game and you feel rejected.