Naomi Osaka Started Crying After Serena Williams Question Recalls Caroline Garcia

Caroline Garcia may have hung up her racket after playing her final competitive match at the US Open earlier this year, but the former world No. 4 has quickly found a new passion away from the court. The Frenchwoman has been channeling her energy into her podcast, Tennis Insider Club, where she and her co-hosts dive into the untold stories of the sport and the players behind the scenes.

In a recent candid interview, Garcia opened up about her career and her new venture, recalling a particularly emotional episode with Naomi Osaka. She revealed that during the recording of the episode at Wimbledon last year, Osaka unexpectedly broke down in tears when asked about her first Grand Slam victory at the 2018 US Open final against Serena Williams.

That final, remembered as one of the most controversial in tennis history, saw Williams clash with chair umpire Carlos Ramos in a heated exchange that overshadowed Osaka’s triumph. While Osaka lifted her maiden Grand Slam trophy, the fallout brought with it an overwhelming wave of online abuse.

Garcia recounted how unprepared she and her team were for Osaka’s raw response:

"We recorded that one at Wimbledon last year, and obviously we didn't have so much experience at that moment. We were still new in the game of media, and it was big deal to have Naomi Osaka, to have the trust of her team, and also the trust of Naomi to do it, and I obviously know her from the tour, but you know, - she was away with her pregnancy, so I didn't see her that much, either,” explained Garcia.