Wimbledon's back wall may be in for a bruising next month.
Former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka hinted she could join forces with buddy Nick Kyrgios in a superstar mixed doubles pairing at Wimbledon.
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Following her Madrid exit on Sunday, Osaka was asked about her backhand volley.
The four-time Grand Slam champion said she's been working on her net play because she doesn't want to let down her partner for the Wimbledon mixed doubles.
"I have been like really trying to focus on my net game, because I'm going to play mixed doubles in Wimbledon. I know, shocking, right?" Osaka said. "I'm shocked too. Your eyes got super big.
"I really don't want to like disappoint the person I'm playing with, because whenever I play doubles I always say, Sorry. I'm going to try not to be a liability."
Though Osaka did not cite Kyrgios by name, the pair are friends, Yonex brand ambassadors and practiced together in California before Indian Wells. Kyrgios has said he'd like to play mixed doubles with Osaka at a Slam.
Asked to name her mixed doubles partner, Osaka put the ball back in her prospective partner's court.
"If this person sees it and they want to like respond, they can do that, but I don't know," Osaka said. "Isn't it more fun to kind of see it when it's around the time? I'm pretty sure if you wanted to guess you could guess who it is."
Australian Open doubles champion Kyrgios had fun with a seemingly entranced Osaka in his Instagram post prior to Indian Wells.
"Quick LA session with @naomiosaka," Kyrgis posted. "Analysing my serve to find any small detail…
"Her hunger to learn was pretty epic to see from a champ like her."
Photo credit: Michael Reaves/Getty