“The fire is three blocks from my house”: Osaka’s personal connection to the LA wildfires

Osaka calls Los Angeles home after moving to the United States as a child

Tennis : Us Open 2024 - Naomie Osaka - Japon || 295954_0293 ITF OPEN TENNIS sport tennis tournoi Naomi Osaka (Credit: Chryslene Caillaud / Panoramic)

Naomi Osaka lit up Rod Laver Arena on Monday night in Melbourne, but the Japanese star’s mind was elsewhere as she defeated Caroline Garcia 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

After the match, the two-time Australian Open champion revealed that just minutes before stepping on court, she had been checking L.A. wildfire maps to see if her home was at risk.

“I was watching the fire map and the fire is three blocks from my house. I had someone go get my daughter’s birth certificate and all that because I didn’t know what would happen if that burned down,” she said in her post-match interview.

The 27-year-old credits her multi-tasking prowess for her ability to make the second round despite the distraction.

“I mean, I’m a great multi-tasker,” she said. “I’ll check the wildfire map any chance that I get just to see what’s happening. Honestly I don’t think I’ve been doing the greatest keeping focus, but obviously I won so I think it’s an acceptable job.”

Memories in L.A. make fire challenging for Osaka

“It is really difficult for me because, I don’t know, I think it’s tougher now because I find now my home is more of a home because I have memories with my daughter,” Osaka continued. 

“There’s so many things, keepsakes and stuff like that. Obviously you can’t hoard them all when you’re asking them to go to your house and just grab stuff.

“So it is really tough in that sense. I’m not there, so I don’t know how bad it is or how bad it’s going to get. But I think the biggest thing that I am grateful for is that everyone in my family is safe.”

While Osaka was born in her namesake city in Japan, she has lived in the United States since she was four-year-old and now calls Los Angeles home.

“It’s really difficult,” she continued. “I also feel like in a way it’s tough because I don’t think I’ll go back to L.A. immediately after. Like, I don’t feel like it’s safe enough to go back there. It’s kind of a little bit in a limbo, but also motivating me to hopefully stay here as long as I can. 

“Sending all my love to L.A. I know we hear about fires, but for me in particular I didn’t know how devastating it can be. I just hope everyone is well and I’m sending love.”

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