Naomi Osaka admits Nick Kyrgios watching her Wimbledon match is ‘a little embarrassing’ ahead of US Open doubles partnership

But while her performance garnered plenty of praise, Nick Kyrgios turning up in her player box rather grabbed the spotlight.

But for the four-time major winner, having Kyrgios in her player box came as a surprise – Osaka only finding out in the press conference.

“Oh, my God. I jokingly told someone, ‘Hey, I know Nick’s around, maybe he wants to come to my match.’ But I was joking, because I know we’re, like, two completely different players,” she told the media after her match.

“Honestly, I would have loved to come to his matches, because I know he’s pretty fun. Yeah, I think that’s also a big part of why we’re different is because I know he kind of tells his box what to do, and he probably would have noticed if I was in there.

“I kind of zone out most of the time. That’s a little embarrassing that he was there. I guess it is cool that he was there.”

Kyrgios might have picked up some things from watching Osaka play, but the Japanese star has a few ideas of her own to bring to the table when the two get together to plot their route to victory.

“I have something so crazy to say, but I’m not going to say it,” Osaka teased. “I’m not going to. I’ll see him in person and say it. I am really excited to play mixed doubles with him.

“I think he’s obviously won a doubles tournament… I think it should be fun. I don’t know. I feel like for me, I have always felt like I’ve always related to him in a weird way, even though we’re completely different.

“I kind of understand some of the things that he does. So yeah, I am glad that he came to my match.

“I hope in some way maybe he felt I wouldn’t be bold enough to say ‘inspired’, but I hope he could relate a little bit to the things that I do, too.”

Osaka will play Katerina Siniakova or Qinwen Zheng in the second round, after their match was cancelled on day one due to so many matches going the distance.