NEW YORK _ Last September, having just won the U.S. Open title, Naomi Osaka was wiping away tears on Ashe Stadium court, trying to make sense of the chaos surrounding what should have been one of the happiest days of her life.
Osaka, 21, became a household name last year when she defeated Serena Williams, her hero and role model, in a controversial U.S. Open final that ended in a torrent of boos after Williams received three code-of-conduct violations from the chair umpire.
By contrast, the defending champion was both relaxed and composed in her return to Queens for U.S. Open media day on Friday. In fact, the only time a smile left Osaka's face is when a reporter asked about that match and about her relationship with Williams.
