This Week In Black Love: Naomi Osaka Swoons Over Cordae And Brandy’s Baby Has A Boyfriend
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We’re not very far into the new year, and already there have been some big breakups in Hollywood. That doesn’t mean Black love isn’t thriving, though. Plenty of couples are going strong, tying the knot and celebrating one another, including some celeb youngins and their partners. Check out the stars who packed on the PDA for the ‘gram this week and showcased the best of Black love.
Danielle Brooks and Dennis Gelin
The actress tied the knot this week to longtime love Dennis Gelin looking like every bit of a Black princess (one of her stunning gowns was by Black-owned brand Alonuko by the way!). “The party was lit and everyone felt safe because of our COVID measures,” the beautiful bride told Vogue. “We ate phenomenal cake and drank tequila until it literally ran out at the bar. You could feel that after two years of being in a pandemic we all yearned for moments to create memories together, and we are glad we could provide that. The room was flowing with love, joy, and togetherness.”
Naomi Osaka and Cordae
The tennis champ showed love to her beau, rapper Cordae. He just released his latest album, From a Birds Eye View, and Osaka had the chance to watch him in the creative process. “You’re a star and a light, quite literally brighten up every room you walk in,” she said of the MC before adding, “proud of you.”
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky
Your fave stepped out in fierce fashions (we need that puffer vest!), as usual, alongside boyfriend A$AP Rocky this week — more than once actually. Nobody gets all gussied up for dinner like these two.
Lori Harvey and Michael B. Jordan
The social socialite and entrepreneur turned 25 this week, and while boyfriend Michael B. Jordan couldn’t be present for the party he threw her, he made sure to show his queen love, including on social media. The actor shared a very cute video of the couple playing touch football (quite well by the way) on the beach with friends.
Sy’Rai Smith
Brandy’s baby isn’t a baby anymore and she has the boyfriend to remind us of that. The 19-year-old shared a photo with her beau as the two posed for photos in the snow. It may have been cold outside, but we can feel the warmth from this cozy image!
Shaunie O’Neal and Pastor Keion Henderson
Find yourself someone you can cut up with who understands that not everybody was meant to dance like MJ. The TV personality joyfully two-stepped alongside her fiancé, Pastor Keion Henderson.
Sloane Stephens and Jozy Altidore
As they hit two weeks of marriage, the tennis star and her new hubby have been sharing more stunning images (and even some video) from their recent nuptials. Everything about this photo is a grand slam!
‘You have to ask a men’s player’ - Naomi Osaka responds to Novak Djokovic questions at Australian Open
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Naomi Osaka found herself in the position of having to respond to further questions about Novak Djokovic after her first-round win over Camila Osorio at the Australian Open.
The defending champion wasted little time in overcoming her Colombian opponent, who was making her main draw debut in Melbourne, wrapping up the contest in 68 minutes
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Australian Open Nadal not interested in GOAT ‘movie’, Osaka’s ‘FABEV’ shout-out – AO diary AN HOUR AGO
“I mean, to be completely honest, it didn’t really affect me,” Osaka said of the furore surrounding Djokovic in Melbourne.
“I saw that it affected the men’s draw a little bit, so you might have to ask a men’s player.
“For me, my goal, like even before this whole situation, is to just focus on myself more, what I need to do to become better.
“I wasn’t really, like, I guess looking at the news too often.”
Earlier, in her on-court interview, Osaka reflected on returning to Rod Laver Arena as the reigning champion.
‘Sorry, sorry, sorry!’ - Osaka almost strikes umpire with vicious return
“It always feels special for me to come back here,” the two-time Australian Open winner said.
“I played the warm-up tournament before the Grand Slam and I have a lot of really good memories here. It feels really nice to start the year in this tournament.
“I think I played really well in the circumstances. I didn’t really have any information on my opponent but I thought she played amazingly. She was fighting for every point and I think that was really good quality.
“I’m sure we’re going to see her on this court pretty frequently. Overall I’m just really happy to be here.
“I really like hot conditions but I feel like every time I come here everyone is warm and welcoming. The crowd are all really nice so I’m sure that has an effect on me.”
Stream the 2022 Australian Open live and on-demand on discovery+ . A subscription for discovery+ is now £29.99 for the first year for UK users, down from £59.99
Australian Open Australian Open order of play, Day 2 - Tsitsipas and Raducanu take centre stage after Djokovic saga 2 HOURS AGO
Australian Open Day 1: Naomi Osaka, Rafael Nadal speed into second round
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The Australian Open is underway notably without men’s No. 1 player Novak Djokovic, who was deported after an appeal to have his visa reinstated was shot down. Now the attention turns to the tennis action and on day 1 there were a handful of upsets on the women’s side, including to the two highest-ranking Americans.
Osaka, Nadal advance in returns
Naomi Osaka moved into the next round with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Camila Osorio. She won the first five games of the match as she looks to defend her Australian Open crown. The four-time Grand Slam singles champion also won in 2019.
Osaka, 24, showed off a bit of a superstition in the opening match by avoiding stepping on the “Melbourne” signage on the court. She had 19 winners to Osorio’s five and an 83% win percentage on the first serve. Osaka is seeded 13th after sliding in the rankings while taking time off last year. She withdrew from the French Open and skipped Wimbledon before early exits at the Tokyo Olympics and U.S. Open.
Osaka will face American Madison Brengle in the second round.
Rafael Nadal, seeded sixth in the men’s draw, also advanced in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 against Marcos Giron. Nadal missed the end of the 2021 season with a foot injury. He won the Summer Set title in Melborne two weeks ago, his first tournament win in Australia since the Australian Open in 2009.
Nadal, 35, is tied with Djokovic and Roger Federer for most major singles titles in men’s tennis history. Each player has 20 and Nadal is the only one of them in the draw. Djokovic did not meet the country’s strict COVID-19 vaccination criteria that created an 11-day saga. Federer is currently injured.
Story continues
Nadal will face Yannick Hanfmann, who won in straight sets, in the second round.
Women’s draw: Top seeds advance
Ash Barty, the No. 1 ranked player on the women’s side, had little trouble advancing through with a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Lesia Tsurenko. Barty will face Lucia Bronzetti of Italy next.
It took Barty only 54 minutes to get through as the Australian seeks her first Australian Open title. She faced game points in only the third game and saved them with a forehand winner and ace.
No. 4 seed Barbora Krejcikova also won with ease, 6-2, 6-0, over Andrea Petkovic. No. 5 seed Maria Sakkari played a closer match, escaping with a 6-4, 7-6 (2). It’s her first time seeded 10th or better in a Grand Slam in her career.
Coco Gauff, Sofia Kenin head home early
Coco Gauff and Sofia Kenin are taking early trips home after upsets in the first round in Melbourne.
Gauff, seeded 18th, is the only player in the WTA top 200 younger than 18. The teenage sensation lost to Chinese player Wang Qiang 6-4, 6-2. Gauff had 38 unforced errors and 15 winners. It’s the first opening round defeat for the American star since the 2020 U.S. Open.
Kenin, who won the tournament in 2020, lost to American veteran Madison Keys 7-6 (2), 7-5. Kenin was seeded 11th and Keys is coming off a title win at Adelaide. It was Keys’ first WTA title in two years.
Men’s draw: American scores upset
American Sebastian Korda serves against Britain’s Cameron Norrie on the first day of the Australian Open. (Photo by MARTIN KEEP/AFP via Getty Images)
American Sebastian Korda pulled off the biggest upset of the men’s draw on the first day. He took down No. 12 seeded Australian Cameron Norrie, 6-3, 6-0, 6-4.
Korda will face Frenchman Corentin Moutet in the second round. Moutet dropped the first set of the tournament, but bounced back to win the next three against fellow countryman Lucas Pouille.
Alexander Zverev, seeded third, won 7-6 (3), 6-1, 7-6 (1) against Daniel Altmaier. He was the only top-five men’s player to hit the court on the Grand Slam’s first day.
Naomi Osaka, ‘just happy to be here,’ posts first-round victory at Australian Open; Coco Gauff upset by Wang Qiang
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MELBOURNE, Australia – Defending champion Naomi Osaka posted a relatively trouble-free 6-3, 6-3 victory on Monday over Camila Osorio in the first round of the Australian Open.
Osaka, the four-time Grand Slam singles champion, won at Rod Laver Arena and did so by taking the first five games of the match, before Osorio finally scratched one out herself.
Osaka will take on Madison Brengle – the American player beat Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine 6-1, 0-6, 5-0, ret. – in the second round as she looks to build some momentum for what could be a lengthy tournament run.
The former No. 1 player in the world, Osaka slid down the rankings last year after taking time off following her withdrawal at the French Open. She is seeded 13th at the Australian Open, where she won in 2019 and 2021.
“It always feels special to come back here,” she said after Sunday’s victory.
The early success seems promising for Osaka, as Osorio is ranked 50th in the world but was making her main draw debut at Melbourne Park.
“I thought she played amazing,” Osaka said of her opponent. “Overall, I’m just happy to be here, I’m happy to see everybody in the audience, and I hope we gave you a great performance.”
After winning here last year, capturing her second Australian Open title in three years, Osaka pulled out of the 2021 French Open before the second round then sat out Wimbledon. She played at the Tokyo Olympics, where she lit the cauldron, but ended her 2021 season early after a third-round loss and a teary news conference at the US Open.
Two of her goals for 2022, she said last week, were to stay completely composed on the court and off, and to enjoy the game.
The first test of Osaka’s new approach to tennis might have been when she completely whiffed on an overhead to give her opponent a break point. Osaka didn’t chuck her racket. She didn’t roll her eyes. She smiled.
“There are situations where I previously would get upset. But at this point in my life, like, I’m here because I want to be here and because I find that it’s fun for me,’’ Osaka said. “Might as well enjoy it while I still can.’’
Elsewhere on the women’s side, China’s Wang Qiang secured her first win over a top-20 player since beating Serena Williams at Melbourne Park in 2020 after upsetting 18th-seeded Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-2.
It was Wang’s first win on tour since last year’s French Open, where she beat Su-Wei Hsieh in the first round before losing to Gauff in the second.
Gauff saved four match points from 5-0 down on Monday, but that was the only good news in a match in which the American made 38 unforced errors.
“You know I lost two times against her last year, so I just tried my best to focus on court,’’ Wang said.
Earlier in the day, fifth-seeded Maria Sakkari outlasted Tatjana Maria 6-4, 7-6 (2) to open the tournament.
Sakkari felt the pressure of being the first to move on but said the experience was “weird … in a good way.”
“I was a little bit stressed, opening the tournament on this wonderful court,” she said. “It’s a privilege to have my first match here.”
French Open champion and fourth-seeded Barbora Krejcikova advanced with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Andrea Petkovic. Krejcikova lost to Paula Badosa in three sets at the Sydney WTA tuneup tournament final on Saturday.
Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Belinda Bencic followed by defeating Kristina Mladenovic 6-4, 6-3, moving into a second-round match against 20-year-old American player Amanda Anisimova, who beat qualifier Arianne Hartono 2-6, 6-4, 6-3. And 15th-seeded Elina Svitolina registered a 6-1, 7-6 (4) win over Fiona Ferro.
Also, a back injury forced ninth-seeded Ons Jabeur to withdraw before her scheduled first-round singles match. The injury forced the Tunisian player, who reached the third round at Melbourne Park last year, to retire from her quarterfinal at a Sydney lead-up event last week.
She was replaced in the main draw by Romania’s Irina Bara, a lucky loser from the qualifying tournament. China’s Saisai Zheng was another late withdrawal on the Open’s first day. She was replaced by Nao Hibino of Japan.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Australian Open 2022 - Defending champion Naomi Osaka and Ashleigh Barty get ready for Australian Open
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Tennis
Australian Open 2022 - Defending champion Naomi Osaka and Ashleigh Barty get ready for Australian Open
Defending champion Naomi Osaka and No.1 seed Ashleigh Barty trained ahead of the Australian Open matches on Sunday. Naomi Osaka will face Camila Osorio while Barty will take on Lesia Tsurenko in Round 1.
00:01:36, 21 hours ago