Naomi Osaka gets hit with ‘veteran’ reality: ‘Made me sit down in silence…’

Osaka announces teaming up with Nick Kyrgios for a mixed doubles event in style.

Naomi Osaka funnily suggested she has a hard time accepting that she is now considered “a Tour veteran” after it was announced that she and Nick Kyrgios would be making their mixed doubles debut at this year’s US Open.

For this year’s US Open edition, a special mixed doubles tournament is planned titled “The US Open Mixed Madness.” The exhibition event at Flushing Meadows is slated to take place on August 20th at Arthur Ashe Stadium, six days before the final Grand Slam tournament of the year starts.

But before the main action starts, fans will have a chance to see four star mixed doubles compete at Flushing Meadows. For their rivals Osaka, 26, and 29-year-old Kyrgios will have Coco Gauff, 20, and 21-year-old Ben Shelton, as well as Paula Badosa and Stefanos Tsitsipas & Aryna Sabalenka and Taylor Fritz.

Osaka: Made me sit down in silence…

With a combined age of 55, Osaka and Kyrgios will be the oldest doubles team at the US Open Mixed Madness.

“The fact that we’re the veterans in this group just made me sit down in silence (crying and dead emojis),” Osaka wrote on Instagram.

Meanwhile, Osaka and Kyrgios have a great relationship and they have even become business partners. After practicing together in 2022, the Australian spoke very highly of Osaka as a player and a person.

When Osaka confirmed her post-pregnancy comeback would start in 2024 January, Kyrgios was one of the first to send her a message.

“The best part of journey is realising that we can all learn something from someone. Will be following and supporting your comeback @naomiosaka !! Happy to help anytime. The whole Kyrgios team is behind you,” Kyrgios wrote on his Instagram Story in December.

Then earlier this year, it was announced that Kyrgios was teaming up with Osaka’s production company to launch his own podcast, Good Trouble with Nick Kyrgios.