Tennis: Osaka, Starring on Debut, Feels Japanese Love

Teenage qualifier Naomi Osaka gave a bow to the crowd after moving into the Australian Open third round on Thursday, in a gesture to the hordes of Japanese fans supporting her.

It was a nice touch from a player who is enjoying an amazing Grand Slam debut and who represents the Asian nation -- yet understands virtually no Japanese.

"I'm trying to study Japanese but I get really nervous when I hear it," she said.

"It's really fast. Sometimes it sounds like they're rapping, so then I'm just like, 'Oh my god -- I didn't hear the first part of the question.'

"Then I look like an idiot, and I don't want to look like an idiot."

Eighteen-year-old Osaka, the daughter of a Japanese mother and Haitian father, she moved to New York as a young child and mostly trains in Florida.

Her dad reportedly preferred to see the dual passport-holder play under the Japanese flag rather than the United States, and she has been embraced by Japan.

"It's the only part of my Japanese side," she said, referring to her bow after she upset 18th seed Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-4.

"Kind of because there were a lot of people cheering for me, and I kind of wanted to show how grateful I was."

Osaka, who was born in the city of the same name, is surprised at how many Japanese have been pouring into Melbourne Park to back her on her Grand Slam debut.

"It was actually like there was a lot of Japanese people and they were actually cheering for me. So I was really happy," she said, adding that it was "really touching".

Asked why she thought her matches were attracting so many fans, both Japanese and others, she replied: "Probably because they think I'm interesting maybe.

"Maybe it's because they can't really pinpoint what I am, so it's like anybody can cheer for me," she added.

With Osaka's star on the rise and a third round clash with two-time champion Victoria Azarenka ahead, she has attracted the attention of 21-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams, her idol growing up.

"I have seen her play. She's really young and really aggressive. She's a really good, talented player. Extremely young. Very dangerous," was the world number one's assessment.