Naomi Osaka went go-karting in Melbourne and jokingly laid down the gauntlet to Ferrari and F1 star Charles Leclerc. The tennis star is in Australia preparing for the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the year.
Glimpses of Osaka’s run at the Auscarts Racing indoor go-karting track were shared by the Australian Open account on Instagram. The 28-year-old then shared a photo on her Instagram story, showing how she finished her lap just under three seconds behind Leclerc.
Naomi Osaka Takes On Go-Karting Track Ahead of Australian Open
Amid her preparations for the Australian Open, Naomi Osaka took a break and went go-karting at the Auscarts Racing track in Melbourne. The two-time Australian Open champion later posted her lap time on her Instagram story and jokingly sent down a warning to Charles Leclerc.
The post was captioned:
“Naomi Osaka’s new side quest in Melbourne.”
View this post on Instagram
Osaka wrote on her Instagram story:
“Charles I’m coming for you [crying laughing emoji]”
According to the track’s celebrity times chart, Osaka’s lap time of 30.048 seconds was faster than that of actor Gerard Butler and rapper Lil Yachty. Her time was also close to that of F1 driver Pierre Gasly, singer Tyler, the Creator, and basketball player Josh Giddey.
Osaka Eyes Australian Open Title After Returning To Form in 2025
Osaka enjoyed an impressive resurgence in 2025, showcasing the quality that made her the world’s top-ranked player in 2019. She claimed her first title since the 2021 Australian Open by winning the WTA 125 Open de Saint-Malo. The Japanese star then reached the Canadian Open final before enjoying another impressive run at the US Open.
Osaka pulled off a stunning upset against Coco Gauff, winning in straight sets 6-3, 6-2. She made it all the way to the semifinals before losing to Amanda Anisimova in three sets, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (3), 3-6.
Now, Osaka will be determined to take the next step on her road to returning to the top. The world No. 16 will be seeded at the Australian Open and will be keen to deliver a strong showing at the year’s first Grand Slam.
Osaka started her 2026 season by playing in the United Cup. She won one and lost one of her two matches as Japan was eliminated at the group stage.
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As a two-time Australian Open winner (2019, 2021), Osaka has the know-how on how to win in Melbourne. And with the Australian Open being one of the most unpredictable events on the calendar, she could well make her mark at the tournament.
