Naomi Osaka says 'relentless' Andy Murray has 'affected every tennis kid worldwide' ahead of potential retirement

ByJames Walker-Roberts

Published 09/05/2024 at 09:09 GMT

Naomi Osaka reached the second round of the Italian Open with victory over Clara Burel. Afterwards the former world No. 1 spoke about her admiration for Andy Murray, who looks set to retire from tennis this year. Osaka said Murray has "affected every tennis kid worldwide". She also said she "can't fathom" how Iga Swiatek has maintained her dominance in the game.

Naomi Osaka says Andy Murray has "affected every tennis kid worldwide” as she opened up on the Brit's legacy in his potential retirement year.

Murray, 36, looks set to hang up his racquet later this season after admitting he likely won’t play beyond the summer.

The three-time Grand Slam champion and former world No. 1 has had a glittering career in one of the sport’s strongest eras alongside Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

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Four-time major winner Osaka said Murray will leave a positive legacy when he does step away from tennis.

“I think as a kid watching him on TV playing these amazing battles, he’s affected every tennis kid worldwide,” said Osaka after her first-round win at the Italian Open.

“For me, Murray’s such a great guy, such a tough competitor. I think it’s really amazing the fact that he loves tennis so much and he keeps coming back.

“He’s had all these injuries. He’s kind of relentless in a way. Just his ability to keep playing matches at a high level.

"For me, when I think about him, when I think about the legacy that he leaves on tennis, obviously he’s done a lot for British tennis.

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“He’s been very vocal [on women’s tennis]. I know all tennis players and all female athletes really appreciate it.”

Murray is set to make his comeback from an ankle injury at the Geneva Open next week ahead of likely playing the French Open for the final time.

Osaka, meanwhile, faces No. 19 seed Marta Kostyuk in the second round of the Italian Open on Thursday.

Osaka has only made it past the second round once in Rome, where she is playing for the first time since 2021.

Her win over world No. 45 Burel was her first top-50 win on clay since the 2019 French Open.

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Osaka said afterwards that she has plenty of admiration for world No. 1 Iga Swiatek, who has been the dominant player on clay over the last few years.

"I think she's incredible. The way she's able to maintain being No. 1 and constantly do well at all the tournaments is something that I honestly can't think of or can't fathom back when I was No. 1 for like five seconds,” said Osaka, who spent 25 weeks as world No. 1.

"Yeah, I mean, I think she's great for the sport. I also think watching [Aryna] Sabalenka doing so well is super, super fun. I hope that I'm able to play them both one day.”

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