Naomi Osaka showed her gentle touch when had to deal with a butterfly landing on her mid-match at the Australian Open on Friday, but she was otherwise little bothered as she breezed into the last 16.
After the butterfly landed on her leg in the second set, Osaka gently carried the insect intruder to safety at the side of the court. But the butterfly refused to leave her side as it landed on her face, much to everyone’s amusement. “Even the butterflies in Australia love you,” the Australia Open’s official account shared on Twitter.
It was a picture-perfect moment as the 23-year-old gently tried to rid herself of the insect and returned to complete an easy 6-3, 6-2 victory over Tunisian 27th seed Ons Jabeur. The third seed, champion in Melbourne two years ago, will now have a blockbuster showdown with last year’s runner-up Garbine Muguruza.
Even the butterflies in Australia love @naomiosaka 🦋😂#AusOpen | #AO2021 pic.twitter.com/DyJ7jLYYgh
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 12, 2021
Naomi Osaka and a butterfly. Picture perfect! #AusOpen
— The Field (@thefield_in) February 12, 2021
🦋🦋🦋 pic.twitter.com/eBQqwjFQyU
The video was widely shared on social media, with people commenting on how nicely she handled the whole incident.
The butterfly is in love with you, @naomiosaka 😂🦋 pic.twitter.com/vy7HmaNz6W
— Tennis GIFs 🎾🎥 (@tennis_gifs) February 12, 2021
The butterflies clearly love all the nicest player :’) #AO2021 https://t.co/oRPq3Czv0x pic.twitter.com/qCxQyUkvYJ
— Tareque Laskar (@tarequelaskar) February 12, 2021
First @cheteshwar1 now @naomiosaka. Australian butterflies seem to be quite fond of top-level athletes who are also wonderful people. https://t.co/vJ4yhr1DNo
— Shiamak Baria-Unwalla (@Crikipedia) February 12, 2021
Naomi Osaka and a butterfly went exactly as you'd imagine#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/ckXtTwDrZZ
— Vivek Jacob (@vivekmjacob) February 12, 2021
Naomi Osaka carefully rescues a butterfly on court and I can see the commercial being produced in some Nike exec's mind this very moment
— Ava Wallace (@avarwallace) February 12, 2021