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KEY BISCAYNE, FL – MARCH 21: Serena Williams meets Naomi Osaka of Japan after losing to her in straight sets during Day 3 of the Miami Open at the Crandon Park Tennis Center in Key Biscayne, Florida. Al Bello/Getty Images
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What a week for Naomi Osaka, who won her first WTA title and beat her childhood idol Serena Williams

Forget winning, Osaka was all about that post-match handshake

Rhiannon Walker @InstantRHIplay
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BNP Paribas Open Naomi Osaka Women's Tennis Association Women's Tennis Tennis Serena Williams

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    12:16 PMEver since Naomi Osaka celebrated her 20th birthday in October, the Afro-Japanese youngblood has done no worse than quarterfinals and fourth-round exits.

    On March 18, Osaka defeated Daria Kasatkina in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, to win her first WTA title. Osaka played nearly perfect tennis, dropping only one set in eight matches and beating three players who have been WTA No. 1s (Maria Sharapova, Karolina Pliskova, Simona Halep) and a No. 2 (Agnieszka Radwanska) en route to the title.

    Hours after her first WTA win, Osaka’s coach informed her that she got paired up with Serena Williams, her childhood idol, in the first round of the Miami Open. Osaka would end up winning the match fairly easily, 6-3, 6-2. While winning was certainly a high point, it was the post-match handshake that really resonated with Osaka.

    “This is going to be really bad,” Osaka cautioned. “Sometimes when I’m in a really important position, when I’m serving, I’m like, ‘What would Serena [Williams] do?’ ”

    Osaka, ranked 44th in the world heading into Indian Wells, has risen to No. 22.

    Rhiannon Walker is an associate editor at The Undefeated. She is a drinker of Sassy Cow Creamery chocolate milk, an owner of an extensive Disney VHS collection, and she might have a heart attack if Frank Ocean doesn't drop his second album.