Naomi Osaka

Who Is Naomi Osaka?

Naomi Osaka is more than a tennis champion. She is a cultural force.

Naomi Osaka is a professional tennis player and a four-time Grand Slam champion. She is the first Asian player to hold the world No. 1 ranking. She became the first Japanese player to win a Grand Slam title at the 2018 US Open.

A four-time Grand Slam champion, Osaka completed a second US Open–Australian Open double in 2020 and 2021. In the process, she established herself as a global superstar, a symbol of diversity, and a fashion icon.

Furthermore, she was chosen as the final torchbearer at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021.

The latest proof of her return to the very highest level came at the 2025 US Open, where she reached the semi-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time in four years.

Today, her current WTA ranking stands at No. 13. Naomi Osaka is firmly back — and the tennis world is watching.

Early Life: A Multicultural Family and a Tennis Dream

Born in Osaka, Raised in New York

Naomi Osaka was born on October 16, 1997, in Osaka, Japan, to Leonard Francois and Tamaki Osaka. Her father, Leonard, is Haitian. Her mother, Tamaki, is Japanese. The two met in 1990 when Leonard was visiting Sapporo as a college student.

When Tamaki’s father found out she was dating a non-Japanese man, he accused her of bringing shame upon the family. The couple moved to Osaka. For nearly a decade, Tamaki had virtually no contact with her family.

Her father is Haitian-American. Her mother is Japanese. The family moved to Long Island, New York, in 2000, where her father began training Osaka and her sister, Mari, in tennis, inspired by the Williams sisters.

At just three years old, Naomi and her family moved to Long Island, New York, before later relocating to Florida in 2006 so she could receive better tennis training. Naomi grew up speaking Japanese, Creole, and English, which gave her a deep connection to her Haitian and Japanese heritage.

Tennis at Age Three — Inspired by the Williams Sisters

Inspired by the story of Venus and Serena Williams, Osaka’s father decided to train his daughters, Naomi and Mari, in tennis. Naomi Osaka started playing when she was three years old. She and her older sister hit thousands of balls a day.

After five years of living in New York, the family moved to Broward County, Florida. The girls focused on tennis full-time. They trained on the Pembroke Pines public court during the day and were homeschooled at night.

Sister Mari: A Fellow Professional

In Osaka, the couple had a daughter, Mari — also a professional tennis player. Eighteen months later, Naomi was born. The girls took their mother’s last name for practical purposes while living in Japan.

Therefore, tennis was never just a sport in the Osaka household. It was a family mission. It was a shared dream.

Career Highlights: A Champion Built for History

Turning Professional and Early Recognition

After moving to Florida for more focused training, Osaka turned professional at age fifteen. She quickly gained recognition, reaching her first Grand Slam event in 2016.

When she was sixteen, Osaka began training at the Harold Solomon Tennis Institute. Her powerful baseline game and devastating flat serves began turning heads across the tour.

2018 US Open: A Historic First

The year 2018 changed everything. Naomi Osaka defeated tennis icon Serena Williams in a dramatic final to claim the US Open title.

She became the first Japanese player to win a Grand Slam singles title. Moreover, the win announced the arrival of a new generation of tennis greatness.

Additionally, she won the WTA title in Indian Wells in 2018, showing her breakthrough was no fluke.

2019 Australian Open: World No. 1

She was ranked as the No. 1 women’s singles competitor by the WTA for 25 weeks in a row beginning in January 2019, when she was just 23 years old.

Her Australian Open title that same year made her the first Asian player to hold the top ranking in women’s tennis. It was a moment that rewrote sporting history.

2020 US Open: Seven Masks, One Message

The 2020 US Open was unlike any tournament before it. Osaka used the biggest stage in tennis to speak to the world.

At the US Open that September, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she wore a series of face masks featuring the names of African Americans who had died at the hands of police or in alleged racially motivated attacks.

The seven masks bore the names of Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin, George Floyd, Philando Castile, and Tamir Rice.

She stated that the face masks were part of her effort “to make people start talking.” Osaka triumphed at the tournament, winning the US Open title for a second time. In recognition of her tennis success and activism, the Associated Press selected Osaka as the Female Athlete of the Year for 2020.

2021 Australian Open and Tokyo Olympics

Osaka added to her collection of Grand Slam trophies in February 2021 when she secured a second Australian Open title.

Then came a moment that transcended sport entirely. She received the honour of lighting the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Her braids were dyed red and white to match the Japanese flag.

She received the final flame and carried it up a set of stairs surrounded by light, to a shape resembling a cherry blossom opening, then solemnly added the flame to the centre.

Mental Health Advocacy: A Turning Point for Sport

In 2021, Osaka made another kind of history. She chose her wellbeing over a press conference.

During the French Open, Osaka announced that she would not participate in press conferences, citing effects on her mental health. Osaka criticised press conferences as “kicking a person while they’re down” after a loss.

Her 2021 decision to prioritize mental health during the French Open sparked worldwide debate about athlete wellbeing, media obligations, anxiety, and emotional burnout. Though controversial at the time, Osaka’s openness reshaped public conversations across sports. Many athletes later credited Osaka with helping normalize discussions about therapy, depression, performance pressure, and emotional exhaustion.

The Comeback: Motherhood, Resilience, and Rising Again

Pregnancy and Daughter Shai (2023)

In January 2023, Osaka withdrew from the Australian Open and revealed days later on social media that she was pregnant with her first child with rapper Cordae. She welcomed a daughter named Shai later that July.

Osaka told ESPN the name means “God’s gift.” “I think that’s what I wanted her to feel, like she was a gift to me and, you know, her dad. And, of course, she’s spreading a lot of joy already,” she said.

Return to Court (2024): One of the Biggest Movers

She began 2024 unranked but ended the season inside the top 60, making her one of the sport’s biggest rankings movers. Osaka played 40 matches in 16 tournaments in 2024 — her highest number of both since 2019.

In 2024, she reached the WTA 1000 quarterfinals in Doha. She also beat six top-20 players, the highest-ranked being world No. 10 Jelena Ostapenko in the first round of the US Open. She also came within one point of stunning world No. 1 Iga Swiatek at Roland Garros.

On her return to Wimbledon after five years, Naomi Osaka registered a hard-fought win in the first round. She celebrated on Instagram, writing: “Guess who’s back in the top 100.”

The 2025 Resurgence: Final, Semi-Final, and Top 20

2025 was the year Osaka reminded the world of her greatness.

In 2025, she reached her first WTA final since returning from maternity leave at Auckland. She made her sixth career WTA 1000 final at Montreal and reached the semi-finals at the US Open — her first major semi-final in four years — which saw her back in the top 20 for the first time since January 2022. She also won the WTA 125 title at Saint Malo.

At the 2025 US Open, she reached the semi-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time in four years.

Osaka stormed to the final of the WTA 1000 Canadian Open in Montreal and then reached her first Grand Slam semi-final in over four years at the US Open, pushing Amanda Anisimova all the way in a three-set thriller. Having been ranked just inside the top 50 before action in Montreal, her two strong runs propelled her back inside the top 20 of the WTA Rankings.

2026: Ranked Inside the Top 15

Naomi Osaka’s current WTA ranking in 2026 stands at No. 13.

Legendary coach Rick Macci — who worked with the Williams sisters and Maria Sharapova — has backed Osaka for another big breakthrough in 2026.

In 2026, she reached the final at Bad Homburg, continuing a remarkable run of form that has every top player watching nervously.

Beyond Tennis: Activism, Business, and Cultural Impact

Social Justice Advocacy

In August 2020, Osaka temporarily withdrew from the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament in New York as a means of showing solidarity with Black Lives Matter protests occurring in cities across the United States.

She was also present at Black Lives Matter protests and was vocally supportive of the movement. In recognition of her activism and athletic career, she received the Sports Illustrated Sportspersons of the Year award, appeared on TIME’s annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world in both 2019 and 2020, and received the 2021 Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year.

Mental Health Partnerships

Osaka has continued to advocate for athletes’ mental health. She partnered with platform Modern Health to offer a series of personal meditation tools. “I realize how helpful it is. I’m glad that I have people around me that told me to go in that direction,” she said.

Business Ventures and Brand Deals

Osaka has built a business empire that rivals her trophy cabinet.

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Osaka has a net worth of about $45 million. The figure is composed of years of brand deals and endorsements combined with prize money from her four major wins and other WTA titles.

Her extensive list of brand partnerships includes LVMH Moët Hennessy, Louis Vuitton, Nike, Panasonic, and Victoria’s Secret. According to Forbes, she made about $15 million in endorsements alone in 2023.

Some of her other brand deals include Yonex, Nissan, Nissin Foods, Tag Heuer, MasterCard, and BodyArmor. According to Forbes, Osaka made a whopping $60 million in 2021 from prize money and endorsements alone.

Naomi Osaka launched her own skincare brand, Kinlo, in 2021. She also became co-owner of the North Carolina Courage, one of the top teams in the National Women’s Soccer League.

The Second Set Documentary

She released a documentary, Naomi Osaka: The Second Set, which delves into her evolving identity as both a champion athlete and a new mother.

Personal Life

Daughter Shai and Co-Parenting With Cordae

Naomi Osaka was in a relationship with US rapper Cordae for several years. In July 2023, they welcomed their daughter, Shai. Although Naomi and Cordae separated in early 2025, they remain committed co-parents.

In January 2025, Osaka posted an Instagram story saying they decided to go their separate ways, but that there was no bad blood between them and they’d continue raising Shai together.

Osaka has called Cordae “an awesome dad” and her daughter “my biggest blessing.”

Cultural Identity

Naomi Osaka has always been vocal about her multicultural identity. She represents Japan but embraces her Haitian and American heritage proudly. Her decision to play for Japan gave visibility to biracial athletes in the country and inspired millions of young players around the world.

Career Statistics at a Glance

Grand Slam	Year	Result
US Open	2018	Winner
Australian Open	2019	Winner
US Open	2020	Winner
Australian Open	2021	Winner
US Open	2025	Semi-Finalist
Miami Open	2022	Finalist