00:00Um, I mean, for me, I felt, um, I don't know, like, I really respect her as a player.
00:12So I kind of knew that I had to play really well from the very, very first point.
00:16So I just tried to do that.
00:19Yeah.
00:20Okay.
00:21Good enough.
00:22Congratulations.
00:23We have a big room.
00:24Name and affiliation.
00:25One question each.
00:26I'll get to as many as I can.
00:28Okay.
00:30Name and affiliation.
00:31City with the Colby.
00:32Name and affiliation, please.
00:33Tyrell Johnson rolling out.
00:34City with the Colby jersey on.
00:36You were also at Nick's Madness.
00:38Wanted to know what you remember about him coming here to see you play five years ago.
00:45Um, I mean, I guess, um, I kind of played on the same court today.
00:54Um, Louis Armstrong was the court that, um, he came and watched my match.
00:58And I honestly remember being a little bit in disbelief that, um, he was coming specifically
01:04to watch my match and, um, just to feel that support was unreal.
01:08And I think for me, um, I always wear Colby jerseys after matches and practices because
01:14I feel like a little bit like I can kind of keep his spirit with me.
01:21And later right here.
01:23One question.
01:25Um, Lucy from Blackswing Global.
01:28Um, I know as many of your best matches this year since you've been back, um, have been
01:33against, let's say, top players, whether they're Grand Slam champions, um, seeded players.
01:39Do you feel more motivated during those matches or does that naturally come to you?
01:43Um, I mean, I would definitely say I'm not sure if it's motivation or if I feel like
01:49I have no other choice but to play well.
01:52And then it gets rid of all the expectations and all the pressure I put on myself, um,
01:58because I know like no matter what, the tennis is going to be really great tennis, even if
02:02I win or lose.
02:03So, um, that's kind of my mindset whenever I play, like seeded players are really good
02:10players.
02:11David.
02:12Hi Naomi.
02:13David Kane, tennis.com.
02:14I have another fashion question for you.
02:16We saw a preview of the night outfit before the tournament, we got to see the day.
02:19Today, I'm just curious if you could speak to the inspiration specifically with the headphones.
02:22I'm told it's a Harajuku inspiration.
02:25Yeah, it is.
02:26Um, I've, well, Yoon is so nice.
02:30She was, um, she accepted doing this project and we've kind of been like talking about
02:35it for a few years now.
02:37So just to be able to like wear it and see it come to life and see that people are excited
02:43to see it.
02:44Um, yeah, it's really cool.
02:45But it's, yeah, based on Japanese and Harajuku culture.
02:49Ava.
02:50Ava Wallace, Washington Post.
02:51Naomi, I also wanted to ask you about the fit, the color.
02:55When did you choose?
02:56Because that's been the color of the summer.
02:57So I want to know when you, when that was decided, but also has you kind of been speaking
03:02about feeling more like yourself on court and obviously you mentioned the out-of-body
03:05thing.
03:06Does being able to have a hand in the fashion aspect of it help you with that at all?
03:10Is there any connection there?
03:11Um, well, I chose the color like at least a year ago, so, um, yeah.
03:19Um, but yeah, I mean, I definitely love to be involved in everything that I do, whether
03:24it's fashion or anything else.
03:26But, um, I feel like being able to be a part of my tennis outfits gives me, I would say
03:34a different strength, especially the U.S. Open outfits.
03:37I feel like they're a little bit more flamboyant.
03:39And, um, when I was putting on my outfit today, I was like, ah, I hope this isn't too
03:45much.
03:46Um, cause like I had the tutu and then I had the bow jacket and it was green and I feel
03:54like everyone was staring at me funny.
03:56Um, and then I put the headphones on, that was a real killer, but, um, yeah.
04:02But then I was like, you know what?
04:04this maximalist style, um, and then it made me feel better.
04:08Like another player came up to me and asked to take a picture.
04:12So I hope it was like, you know, positive picture wasn't like, wasn't like, oh my God,
04:17look at her.
04:18Um, but yeah, I think for me when I put on the outfit, it's almost like a super suit.
04:23So I try to channel that.
04:25Gentleman in the middle.
04:27Uh, yeah.
04:28I know Victor Longron for the Keep.
04:30Have you ever been so emotional after a victory?
04:32What does represent this specific victory?
04:35Um, you know, I would say yes.
04:39And it was probably on the same exact court.
04:41So maybe it's that court that does something to me.
04:43Um, the first US Open that I won, I played Sabalenka in the round of 16.
04:50I remember I cried really hard after that because I was having my like barrier of, I
04:56couldn't get to the like round of 16 or their quarters or I think it was the round of 16
05:01though.
05:02But yeah.
05:03Um, it was funny though.
05:05I feel like, um, I cried a lot more now than I did like winning slams.
05:13So that's a little funny, but yeah.
05:14Courtney, Naomi, in terms of all the work that you've had to do, you know, the last
05:21eight months to get you a performance like that on this stage at this tournament that
05:25you were targeting, when you think back on all that, and I'm sure it's tons of stuff
05:29that we don't even know that you've kind of had to fight through and work on, what stands
05:33out to you in terms of what was the key over all these past months of building up to be
05:39able to play a match like you did today?
05:41Um, I mean, I think definitely experience.
05:44I'm really glad that I played all of the tournaments this year.
05:48Um, even though the results haven't been that great, I feel like I could draw from each
05:52of those matches.
05:53And, um, over time, I know even though I lost in the qualies of Cincy, um, I, I kind of
06:00gained confidence in my way in, in myself in a weird way, because for me that was like
06:05the worst possible outcome of my career.
06:07Um, granted I could have lost in the round before that.
06:10So, um, but yeah, I just, I don't know.
06:15It's been so much hard work, so much, um, like dreams and wishes and, um, I hope that
06:21I can continue.
06:22But as of right now, I am really happy with how I played.
06:26Okay.
06:27Willie.
06:28Focusing on that, what is the feeling that you get from being at this level and how would
06:34you compare it to any match you've played since you've returned?
06:38Um, that's an interesting one just because I feel like for me, this court is my home.
06:45Like it gives me so much more confidence.
06:48Like I step on the court knowing that I probably have the most wins in the field, maybe.
06:54I don't know.
06:55Like, uh, please don't.
06:56I don't know.
06:57Um, but like, you know, like having two wins here means a lot.
07:02And I think for me, I've been struggling with confidence throughout the year and this, this
07:07time now forces me to like look in the mirror and say like, Hey, like you've done really
07:12well here.
07:13There's no reason why you can't do well again.
07:16Um, I, I just tried to channel that today.
07:19Gentleman right here.
07:21Charlie Eccleshire from The Athletic.
07:23I just wondered if you were asked there about the emotions after and whether it was your
07:27most emotional one, but just what exactly was it that was kind of, that you were thinking
07:31about?
07:32Was there something that kind of tipped you over the edge with the tears?
07:36Um, yeah, I mean, honestly, it's like a combination of a lot of different things.
07:42I grew up here.
07:43So, you know, just seeing kids like, and then remembering my daughter, but seeing kids coming
07:48and watching me play and just remembering that I was a kid, I guess a long time ago,
07:54um, made me very emotional.
07:57And then also just remembering that I came and watched Coco play her semis and I was
08:04in the audience and I didn't know if I was going to be able to play again at this level
08:09just to play Ostepenko, who's such a great player and win that match means a lot to me.
08:14And then, um, yeah, just seeing the stadium really full, it meant a lot because I was
08:21like, oh, I hope people come watch me play.
08:23We have two more in English, Tamani and then Barbara.
08:26Hi Naomi, congrats.
08:27You mentioned that you've been struggling for confidence this year.
08:30Just curious, where did, I guess, that come from and what that struggle has been like?
08:35And also just separately, do you remember, there's like a picture going around of you
08:38and Mari watching Rafa.
08:40Oh yeah.
08:41Do you remember?
08:42Yeah.
08:43Um, honestly the US Open time was like the best moments for me as a kid because it's
08:49like the moments where the people you watch on TV, you can see them in real life.
08:54So, um, yeah, I just remember going into the Nissan Quest that we had and like sliding
09:00the door and like being so pumped to like get to see all my favorite tennis players.
09:05But I don't remember the picture being taken.
09:08Um, but I remember like watching them practice and, okay, um, I would say confidence.
09:21Honestly, I went into Australia with a lot of confidence because it's a hard court.
09:26Um, and, uh, you know, like it didn't go my way there.
09:30And obviously I don't know clear grass that well.
09:34So it kind of shook me up a lot.
09:36And, um, I wish I could have done better in Toronto and Cincy.
09:41And now I feel like I'm just here.
09:43It's almost the end of, well, it is the end of the year, but I told myself like I would
09:48make like my last stand, um, if I could in the US Open and the Asian swing.
09:54So, um, yeah, it's almost like you have a deadline and you're crunching at midnight
10:00to try to make it.
10:02Barbara, last question in English.
10:04Naomi, I just wondered, you know, you talked about how it's sort of like your superpower,
10:09you know, wearing a fashion statement.
10:11Does it, does having a fashion statement like that and having people look at you and it's
10:16kind of cool, does that help you make a statement on the court?
10:19I mean, I mean, drawing that attention and does it give you kind of confidence or not?
10:23Or they're not related at all?
10:25I mean, today it didn't just because I was so focused on my match, but I do like, I do
10:31remember thinking like, I need to win this match so I can wear my other color.
10:35Um, that was very important to me.
10:39So yeah, I guess you'll see my other color next time.
10:43Thank you, everyone.
10:44That concludes English.
10:45Yeah.
10:46Japanese.
10:47Yeah.
10:49Congratulations.
10:51So, the Estepeco player, did you want to overpower her?
10:58Or did you want to make fewer mistakes than your opponent?
11:06Why do you think you won?
11:08Um, yeah, I mean, going into the match, I, I realized after Cincinnati that I'm not,
11:16I'm honestly not classifying myself as an aggressive player.
11:21Um, I love to play the game and I love to like, you know, rally and then go for my opportunity
11:29when I have it.
11:30So I think I tried to apply that to, well, that's a lie.
11:33I am an aggressive player, but I'm not like stepping on the baseline trying to whack the
11:38ball every time.
11:39Um, so yeah, I think today I knew that she was definitely one of the best aggressive
11:45players in the world, but, um, I didn't want to give her all the room to do that.
11:54Um, so I just tried to.
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