<p class="title">Naomi Osaka has witnessed a huge change in her career after claiming a maiden Grand Slam title in 2018, but the rising star of women's tennis will not be changing her quirky personality in media appearances that has endeared her to so many.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The 21-year-old Japanese stunned Serena Williams to capture an emotional US Open triumph last month, before her humble yet idiosyncratic character garnered even more admirers in a slew of high-profile television interviews following that win.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Osaka's stellar season has seen her rise to number four in the world rankings and also booked her a spot at the season-ending WTA Finals for the first time, a whirlwind ride she is loving as her public profile continues to grow.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"For me, I can't change who I am. But I've been thinking... I wonder that people don't show their personality versus people that do, like, people will dislike someone no matter what if they make up their minds," Osaka told reporters on Saturday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"So, for me, I never really thought about changing how I am versus, like, not showing too much.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Like for example, if I didn't act as weird as I am, right, if I was just, like, sort of like a robot with the yes-and-no questions, I feel like that wouldn't really be true to myself or anything.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"So I haven't really thought about changing my personality. Unless you really want me to. Then maybe I'll consider it," she added with a grin.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Osaka has fond memories of the Singapore venue hosting the WTA Finals for a fifth and final time next week, where she will return to an arena three years after she won the Rising Stars Invitational tournament on the same Indoor Stadium court.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I just remember the Rising Stars event being my first big tournament sort of, like I have never played on a centre court that big before. So definitely it's always in my memories," she added of her 2015 victory over Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Osaka has been drawn in the Red Group of the eight-woman event alongside Angelique Kerber, Kiki Bertens and Sloane Stephens, her predecessor as U.S. Open champion who she takes on first in round robin play on Monday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I'm not really used to round robins. But I also think it's a really good thing, because if you happen to lose a match, it doesn't automatically mean you're out of the tournament," Osaka added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"You have other matches you can play and you can continue to, like, learn from the last match you have played. In this way, I think to make one tournament like this, it's very exciting. I kind of want to see what happens."</p>
<p class="title">Naomi Osaka has witnessed a huge change in her career after claiming a maiden Grand Slam title in 2018, but the rising star of women's tennis will not be changing her quirky personality in media appearances that has endeared her to so many.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The 21-year-old Japanese stunned Serena Williams to capture an emotional US Open triumph last month, before her humble yet idiosyncratic character garnered even more admirers in a slew of high-profile television interviews following that win.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Osaka's stellar season has seen her rise to number four in the world rankings and also booked her a spot at the season-ending WTA Finals for the first time, a whirlwind ride she is loving as her public profile continues to grow.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"For me, I can't change who I am. But I've been thinking... I wonder that people don't show their personality versus people that do, like, people will dislike someone no matter what if they make up their minds," Osaka told reporters on Saturday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"So, for me, I never really thought about changing how I am versus, like, not showing too much.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Like for example, if I didn't act as weird as I am, right, if I was just, like, sort of like a robot with the yes-and-no questions, I feel like that wouldn't really be true to myself or anything.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"So I haven't really thought about changing my personality. Unless you really want me to. Then maybe I'll consider it," she added with a grin.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Osaka has fond memories of the Singapore venue hosting the WTA Finals for a fifth and final time next week, where she will return to an arena three years after she won the Rising Stars Invitational tournament on the same Indoor Stadium court.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I just remember the Rising Stars event being my first big tournament sort of, like I have never played on a centre court that big before. So definitely it's always in my memories," she added of her 2015 victory over Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Osaka has been drawn in the Red Group of the eight-woman event alongside Angelique Kerber, Kiki Bertens and Sloane Stephens, her predecessor as U.S. Open champion who she takes on first in round robin play on Monday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I'm not really used to round robins. But I also think it's a really good thing, because if you happen to lose a match, it doesn't automatically mean you're out of the tournament," Osaka added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"You have other matches you can play and you can continue to, like, learn from the last match you have played. In this way, I think to make one tournament like this, it's very exciting. I kind of want to see what happens."</p>