Billie Jean King Praises Naomi Osaka, ‘She’s Just Getting Started!’

Tennis legend Billie Jean King is singing Naomi Osaka‘s praises … telling TMZ Sports activities she completely adores the 23-year-old famous person for her affect on and off the courtroom.

Osaka has rapidly turn into some of the influential voices in all of sports activities — utilizing her platform to talk out on essential matters like psychological well being consciousness and social justice.

Whereas she’s continued to make an affect exterior of competitors, the #2-ranked professional shocked followers after getting booted from the Olympics within the first spherical earlier this week … leaving of us questioning if she’s misplaced a step on the courtroom.

However, BJK is having NONE of that speak … saying, “She’s taking a break. She nonetheless has it. Are you kidding? She’s simply getting began. She’s so younger.”

“No, she hasn’t misplaced a step. Under no circumstances, no, no, no, no.”

King cannot say sufficient good issues about Osaka … including, “I really like her as a result of she speaks out on social justice and issues that matter like psychological well being and black lives matter and every thing. I really like her.”

Bear in mind, Osaka withdrew from the French Open and skipped Wimbledon earlier this yr … calling out the media for neglecting the psychological well-being of athletes and opening up on her struggles with despair.

King applauds Osaka for talking out … but in addition mentioned it is one thing her period additionally battled.

“However we truly did fear about it, we simply didn’t discuss it. The WTA, the Girls’s Tennis Affiliation does fear about it.”