US Open Champion Naomi Osaka returned to Haiti for the first time since winning the US Open in September, and received a hero's welcome from the island nation.
As a Japanese-born female athlete, Osaka has rapidly appealed to an international audience after defeating Serena Williams to claim the Grand Slam title two months ago. The 21-year-old climbed to the fifth place of WTA world ranking with an amazing performance in the season.
Born in Osaka to a Japanese mother and a Haitian father, Naomi Osaka visited her birth land soon after winning the championship and now turned to Haiti following a government invitation.
Osaka posted a picture on Instagram where she sat inside the cabin, while she didn't reveal where to go, only to leave a sign of "fly".
Screenshot from Naomi Osaka's Instagram account.
Naomi received a warm reception on her return to Haiti with fans crowded in the airport on Thursday. "So wonderful to see Naomi embraces her Caribbean heritage!" commented fans.
During a reception event at the National Palace in capital Port-au-Prince, Haitian President Jovenel Moise and First Lady Martine granted the national flag to Osaka, who, in return, presented one of her rackets.
Haiti Minister of Foreign Affairs Edmond Bocchit tweeted that "Happy to receive in Haiti, the US Open Champion Naomi Osaka. She is an inspiration for the young Haitian tennis players. Welcome."
(Top image from VCG: Naomi Osaka speaks during a reception with Haitian President Jovenel Moise at the National Palace in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on November 8, 2018.)