Naomi Osaka for the past six odd months has had one of the most meteoric rises in the history of the women’s game. The Japanese star was already regarded as a potential great due to her extraordinary talents. But in the final stretches of the 2018 season, she took her game to the next level and won the US Open crown, the first Grand Slam title of her precocious career. She has carried that form into 2019, winning the Australian Open and becoming the World No.1 in the WTA rankings for the first time in her career.
Osaka has also won fans over with her bubbly and charming personality which has made her a bit of a celebrity around the globe. She has been a featured guest on many talk shows in America and one of them was the popular Ellen DeGeneres show.
In her appearance at the show last year, Naomi let it slip to Ellen that Black Panther and Creed star Michael B Jordan was her celebrity crush.
In the show, Ellen claimed that she could set Osaka up with Jordan, saying, “You’re famous now, you can make this happen. I’m going to text Michael and tell him he should meet you.”
Months after the show was aired though, Ellen has continued to probe and poke fun at Osaka over her revelation. It started with Ellen sending a cheeky birthday message to Osaka.
Happy birthday, @Naomi_Osaka_. I got you a present. @michaelb4jordan pic.twitter.com/RVlX6Tmt5h
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) October 16, 2018
Replying to this, Osaka pleaded with Ellen to block her and stop trolling her.
pls block me 😩
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@Naomi_Osaka_) October 16, 2018
Michael then personally joined in the fun, replying to both Ellen and Naomi with a shirtless selfie of his own and inviting Osaka to the premiere of Creed 2.
This one is better and more recent. LOL 😂 Happy Belated Bday Naomi. But seriously I want to invite you to the Creed 2 premiere as a bday present 🎁 pic.twitter.com/TS8vmSsRdM
— Michael B. Jordan (@michaelb4jordan) October 17, 2018
To this, Ellen with her tongue firmly in her cheek had the final word.
You’re welcome, Naomi.
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) October 17, 2018
Though this incident took place last year, Ellen still hasn’t forgotten her interactions with the Japanese tennis star. Michael B Jordan recently celebrated his birthday a couple of days back, and DeGeneres again had to take a dig at Osaka while wishing the Hollywood star.
She wrote on Twitter:
Happy birthday to @Naomi_Osaka_’s future husband, @MichaelB4Jordan!
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) February 9, 2019
Replying to this, Osaka again had to beg for mercy:
chilllllllllllllll omg 😫😂
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@Naomi_Osaka_) February 9, 2019
Fans of Osaka though will be certainly hoping for the fun and games to continue!