This is the best photo ever - Tennis fans react to a picture of 8-year-old Naomi Osaka watching Rafael Nadal play during 2006 US Open Notifications New User posted their first comment this is comment text Approve Reject & ban Delete Logout

This is the best photo ever - Tennis fans react to a picture of 8-year-old Naomi Osaka watching Rafael Nadal play during 2006 US Open

Tennis fans react to an old picture of Naomi Osaka watching Rafael Nadal play at the 2006 US Open A picture of Rafael Nadal from the 2006 US Open started doing the rounds on social media this week. While it seems like just another image of the Spaniard during a practice session, what makes it special is that it captures an eight-year-old Naomi Osaka in the stands watching the Spaniard play. Nadal was a two-time Grand Slam champion back then and was seeded second at the 2006 US Open. In the picture, can be seen with her sister Mari in the stands at Arthur Ashe Stadium. A young Naomi Osaka watching Rafael Nadal practice during the US Open (2006)A young Naomi Osaka watching Rafael Nadal practice during the US Open (2006) Tennis fans on social media expressed their excitement at discovering the rare picture. Many highlighted the coincidence, noting how Osaka watched play as an 8-year-old and would later go on to win the same Grand Slam tournament 12 years later. "Omg this is the best photo ever," one fan wrote on Twitter. omg this is the best photo ever omg this is the best photo ever What a moment in time captured!!! ? A young Naomi Osaka watching Rafael Nadal practice during the US Open (2006)A young Naomi Osaka watching Rafael Nadal practice during the US Open (2006) What a moment in time captured!!! ? Omggggggg this picture is iconic Omggggggg this picture is iconic The Spaniard has since gone on to win 20 other Grand Slam singles titles, including four US Opens. Two of Osaka's four Grand Slam titles have come at the New York Major. She defeated in the 2018 final to win her maiden Grand Slam title and defeated Victoria Azarenka in the 2020 final to win her second US Open and third Major title. Class act vibes A young Naomi Osaka watching Rafael Nadal practice during the US Open (2006)A young Naomi Osaka watching Rafael Nadal practice during the US Open (2006) Class act vibes Iconic! Iconic! "This picture popped up on my timeline too, love it! Who knows which future stars have been photographed in the stands in recent matches?!" said a tweet. This picture popped up on my timeline too, love it! Who knows which future stars have been photographed in the stands in recent matches?! This picture popped up on my timeline too, love it! Who knows which future stars have been photographed in the stands in recent matches?! "Damn the coincidences, look at Rafa's youth (translated)," another fan expressed. mds as coincidências. olha a juventude do rafa A young Naomi Osaka watching Rafael Nadal practice during the US Open (2006)A young Naomi Osaka watching Rafael Nadal practice during the US Open (2006) mds as coincidências. olha a juventude do rafa 14 years later 14 years later Naomi Osaka's sister Mari, who accompanied her to Arthur Ashe Stadium on that day in 2006, was also a tennis player herself. Mari played several ITF and WTA tournaments and currently works as a fashion designer.

Every kid growing up playing tennis has pretended to be Nadal Naomi Osaka

Day Ten: The Championships - Wimbledon 2022 It is no secret that Naomi Osaka holds Rafael Nadal in high regard and the Spaniard has been a big inspiration for the Japanese superstar over the years. In an interview during the 2022 claycourt campaign, Osaka expressed her admiration for the 22-time Grand Slam champion. She the Spaniard's popularity, highlighting how every young player tries to imitate Nadal. "I know that every kid growing up playing tennis in the world has pretended to be Nadal at least once," Osaka said. Osaka even revealed that she herself recently picked up a technique used by the Spaniard, hoping it would help boost her game, especially on clay. "I think I stole one of the things that he did and I’ve been practicing it recently. It’ll either go really good or really bad. There’s like no in between. But I think as I’ve been doing it, it’s been going pretty well," she said further. Both players are set to play in the National Bank Open in Toronto before embarking on their US Open journeys. While the Spanish great has been nursing an abdominal injury he sustained at Wimbledon, the Japanese superstar decided to skip Wimbledon due to a leg injury and has not played on tour since the French Open. Poll : Who will win the 2022 ATP finals? Rafael Nadal Novak Djokovic Daniil Medvedev Stefanos Tsitsipas 1395 votes Quick Links More from Sportskeeda Thank You! Show More Comments No thanks Delete Cancel Update Reply ❮ ❯ No thanks Delete Cancel Update Reply ❮ ❯ Be the first one to comment on this story More from Sportskeeda Fetching more content... 1 Logout No Results Found