Naomi Osaka made her first appearance at ESPN’s ESPY Awards on Saturday and took home the award for Best Athlete, Women’s Sports.
The award show: The 23-year-old pro tennis player thanked everyone who supported her during the brief acceptance speech she delivered at the award show, according to Deadline.
.@naomiosaka is the 2021 @ESPYS‘ winner for Best Athlete, Women’s Sports!
… and she always gives the most wholesome speeches 🥺 pic.twitter.com/XrorWcjVUz
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 11, 2021
- While giving her speech, Osaka admitted she was “a bit nervous.”
- “I know this year’s been really — it hasn’t even finished — but it’s been really tough for a lot of us and, for me, I just want to say I really love you guys,” she said, adding that this was her first ESPY award.
- Osaka is set to compete at the Tokyo Games later this month and will represent Japan.
- The tennis player made headlines after she withdrew from the French Open in May and the Wimbledon championships in June.
Notable winners: Osaka, who is of Japanese and Haitian descent, was one of the few Asian and Asian American winners at the ESPY Awards over the weekend.
- Shohei Ohtani, who will be the first player to become a hitter and pitcher at an MLB All-Star Game, took home the award for Best MLB Player, South China Morning Post reported.
- South Korean player Kim Sei-young won Best Athlete in Women’s Golf.
- Lastly, Korean American snowboarder Chloe Kim took home the award for Best Athlete in Women’s Action Sports.
Featured Image via ESPN (left), @naomiosaka (right)
