The key to Osaka's success may be in her hairstyle

Sep 21, 2018
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The key to Osaka's success may be in her hairstyle

Published Sep 21, 2018

Naomi Osaka has been tearing up the tour lately. The 20-year-old stormed through the draw in New York to win the US Open and has now marched into the semifinals in Tokyo.

The key to her latest success? It may be in her hairstyle. Close observers have noticed the Japanese star has been winning all her latest matches with her hair in a bun. She lost in Cincinnati to Maria Sakkari with her hair in a ponytail, and with her hairstyle since adjusted, she's won nine matches in a row—dropping just one set.

Of course, it's a humorous theory, but Osaka has noticed it too.

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Tom Hill is one of Sakkari's coaches.

The world No. 7-ranked Osaka somehow has just two titles to her name, though they're both pretty huge (the US Open and Indian Wells). A crown in Tokyo in front of a home crowd would mean the world to her.

She'll face Camila Giorgi for a spot in the final.