Wikipedia

Naomi Osaka

For the documentary miniseries, see Naomi Osaka (TV series).
The native form of this personal name is Ōsaka Naomi. This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals.

Naomi Osaka (Japanese: 大坂 なおみ, Hepburn: Ōsaka Naomi, Japanese pronunciation: [oːsaka naomi], born October 16, 1997) is a Japanese professional tennis player. She has been ranked world No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) and is the first Asian player to hold the top ranking in singles. Osaka is a four-time Grand Slam singles champion, with two Australian Open and two US Open titles. Her seven titles on the WTA Tour include two at the Premier Mandatory level. At the 2018 US Open and the 2019 Australian Open, Osaka won her first two major titles in back-to-back tournaments, becoming the first Japanese player to win a major singles title and the first woman to win successive major singles titles since Serena Williams in 2015.

Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka smiling during her match against Azarenka in the 2020 US Open.
Osaka at the 2020 US Open
Country (sports) Japan
ResidenceBeverly Hills, California, United States
Born (1997-10-16) October 16, 1997 (age 27)
Chūō-ku, Osaka, Japan
Height180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Turned proSeptember 2013
PlaysRight
CoachPatrick Mouratoglou (2024–)
Prize money$21,776,713[1]
Official websitenaomiosaka.com
Singles
Career record281–161
Career titles7
Highest rankingNo. 1 (January 28, 2019)
Current rankingNo. 58 (October 7, 2024)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian OpenW (2019, 2021)
French Open3R (2016, 2018, 2019)
Wimbledon3R (2017, 2018)
US OpenW (2018, 2020)
Other tournaments
Tour FinalsRR (2018, 2019)
Olympic Games3R (2020)
Doubles
Career record2–15
Career titles0
Highest rankingNo. 324 (April 3, 2017)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open1R (2017)
French Open2R (2016)
Wimbledon1R (2017)
US Open1R (2016, 2017)
Team competitions
Fed CupWG II PO (2018)
Hopman CupRR (2018)
Last updated on: July 15, 2024.

Born in Japan to a Haitian-American father and a Japanese mother, Osaka has lived and trained in the United States since age three. She came to prominence at age 16 when she defeated former US Open champion Samantha Stosur in her WTA Tour debut at the 2014 Stanford Classic. Two years later, she reached her first WTA final at the 2016 Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo and entered the top 50 of the WTA rankings. Osaka broke into the upper echelon of women's tennis in 2018, winning her first WTA title at the Indian Wells Open, then defeating Williams in the final of the US Open. In 2021, suffering from depression and other issues, Osaka retired from the French Open, dropped out of Wimbledon, lost early at the US Open, and ended her season early. She took maternity leave in 2023 and returned to competition in 2024.

Osaka is one of the world's most marketable athletes. In 2020, she ranked eighth among athletes in endorsement income and had the highest-ever annual income of any female athlete. Osaka is also recognized as an activist, having showed support for the Black Lives Matter movement. She was named one of the 2020 Sports Illustrated Sportspersons of the Year for her activism, particularly during her US Open championship run, and was included on Time's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2019, 2020, and 2021. She was the 2021 Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she became the first tennis player to light the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony.

On the court, Osaka has an aggressive playing style with a powerful serve that can reach 201 kilometers per hour (125 mph).

Early life and background

edit

Naomi Osaka was born on October 16, 1997, in Chūō-ku, Osaka, Japan to Leonard François, who is from Jacmel, Haiti, and Tamaki Osaka (大坂 環, Ōsaka Tamaki), who is from Nemuro, Hokkaido, Japan.[2] She has an older sister, Mari, who is a former professional tennis player. The sisters were given their mother's family name as that was the practice when just one spouse held native citizenship. Osaka's parents met when her father was visiting Hokkaido while he was a college student in New York.[3][4]

When Osaka was four years old, her family moved from Japan to the U.S. to live with her father's parents in Elmont, New York on Long Island.[5] Her father was inspired to teach his daughters how to play tennis by watching the Williams sisters compete at the 1999 French Open. Having little experience as a tennis player himself, he sought to emulate how Richard Williams trained his daughters to become two of the best players in the world, despite having never played the sport. François remarked that "the blueprint was already there. I just had to follow it," with regard to the detailed plan Richard had developed for his daughters.

François began coaching Naomi and Mari once they settled in the United States.[3] In 2006, her family moved to Florida when she was eight or nine years old so that they would have better opportunities to train. She practiced on the Pembroke Pines public courts during the day and was homeschooled at night.[3] When Naomi was 15 years old, she began working with Patrick Tauma at the ISP Academy.[6] In 2014, she moved to the Harold Solomon Tennis Academy.[7] She later trained at the ProWorld Tennis Academy.[8]

Although Osaka was raised in the United States, her parents decided that their daughters would represent Japan. They said,

"We made the decision that Naomi would represent Japan at an early age. She was born in Osaka and was brought up in a household of Japanese and Haitian culture. Quite simply, Naomi and her sister Mari have always felt Japanese so that was our only rationale. It was never a financially motivated decision nor were we ever swayed either way by any national federation."[8]

This decision may have also been motivated by a lack of interest from the United States Tennis Association (USTA) when she was still a young player.[3] The USTA later offered her the opportunity to train at their national training center in Boca Raton, Florida when she was 15 years old, but she declined.[8]

Professional career

edit

2011–2015: First WTA Tour match win

edit
 
Osaka interviewed at the 2014 Stanford Classic alongside Serena Williams

Osaka never competed on the ITF Junior Circuit, the premier international junior tour, and only played in a small number of junior tournaments at any age level.[9] She instead skipped to the ITF Women's Circuit and played her first qualifying match in October 2011 on her 14th birthday.[10] She then made her professional main-draw debut in doubles at her next tournament in March with her sister Mari. Meanwhile, she did not qualify for her first singles main draw until July in her seventh such attempt. Her best result of the 2012 season came at a $10k event in Amelia Island, where she lost to her sister in the semifinals.[11] Osaka has never won a title at the ITF level, only managing to finish runner-up on four occasions.[11] Her first two finals came at the $25K level, one of which was in June 2013 in El Paso, Texas. The other was in March 2014 in Irapuato, Mexico and included a victory over her sister.[11]

In September 2013, Osaka turned professional shortly before turning 16 years old.[12] She entered her first two qualifying draws on the WTA Tour that same month at the Challenge Bell in Quebec and the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo. The latter event was her first opportunity to compete professionally in Japan.[11] The following summer, Osaka qualified for her first WTA Tour main draw at the 2014 Stanford Classic. In her tour level debut, she upset world No. 19, Samantha Stosur, in a tight match where she saved a match point in the second set tiebreak and came back from a 5–3 deficit in the third set. She was still just 16 years old and ranked No. 406 at the time.[13][14] Osaka also won a match as a wildcard at the Japan Women's Open, her only other WTA Tour main draw of the year.[15] These victories helped her progress into the top 250 of the rankings before the end of the season.[16]

Despite not winning another WTA Tour main-draw singles match in 2015, Osaka continued to climb up the rankings.[9][16] She reached her two highest level finals, the first at the $75k Kangaroo Cup in Japan and the second at the $50k Surbiton Trophy in England.[11] Following these runner-up results, Osaka was ranked high enough to enter qualifying at the last two Grand Slam singles events of the year, Wimbledon and the US Open. She won her first match at the US Open, but was unable to qualify for either main draw.[11] Nonetheless, Osaka had a strong finish to the year. In October during the WTA Finals, she won the Rising Stars Invitational four-player exhibition tournament, defeating heavy favorite and world No. 35, Caroline Garcia, in the final.[17] Continuing to play in November, Osaka then reached the biggest final of her career at the WTA 125 Hua Hin Championships in Thailand. After a semifinal at a $75k event in Japan, she finished the year ranked No. 144.[16]

2016: Newcomer of the Year, top 50

edit
 
Osaka at the 2016 French Open

Osaka began the season playing three tournaments in Australia. Her results during this stretch were good enough to bring her near the top 100,[16] which allowed her to play in WTA Tour-level events all year.[9] Most notably, she qualified for her first Grand Slam main draw at the Australian Open and made it to the third round. In particular, she upset No. 21, Elina Svitolina, in straight sets in the second round before losing to No. 16, Victoria Azarenka.[18] Back in the United States, Osaka received a wildcard into the Miami Open, her first Premier Mandatory main draw. During the event, she won two matches including a victory over No. 18, Sara Errani.[19] With this success, she progressed into the top 100 of the WTA rankings for the first time.[16]

In the clay-court events leading up to the French Open, Osaka needed to qualify for every event she entered. She only managed to do so at a single event, the Charleston Open, where she lost her only match in the main draw.[11] Nonetheless, Osaka was ranked high enough to be directly accepted into the main draw of the French Open. In her debut at the tournament, she recorded her only two clay-court match wins of the season. She also won the first set against No. 6 Simona Halep, but ultimately lost the match.[20][21] She then did not play the grass-court season after suffering an injury shortly after the French Open.[22][11]

Osaka returned to tennis in the middle of July.[11] At the US Open in August, she reached the third round at a major event for the third time that year. She upset No. 30 CoCo Vandeweghe in the first round before losing to No. 9 Madison Keys, in three sets.[23] During her match against Keys, she had a 5–1 lead in the third set before ultimately losing in a tiebreak.[24] After the tournament, Osaka began the Asian hardcourt season with two tournaments in Tokyo, first losing in the second round at the Japan Women's Open.[25] Having already reached her first two career WTA quarterfinals earlier in the year, she then made her breakthrough as a wildcard at the Premier-level Pan Pacific Open. She upset No. 12 Dominika Cibulková and No. 20 Svitolina on the road to making her first WTA final at the age of 18. At the time, Cibulkova was the highest-ranked player she ever defeated. Additionally, she was the first Japanese player to contest the final at the event since Kimiko Date in 1995.[26][27] Osaka ultimately finished runner-up to Caroline Wozniacki.[28] Nonetheless, she entered the top 50 of the WTA rankings for the first time.[16] At the end of the season, she was named the WTA Newcomer of the Year.[29]

2017: Two top-10 victories

edit

After her huge improvement the previous year, Osaka was unable to set a new career-high ranking in 2017. Nonetheless, she maintained a steady ranking throughout the season, rising no higher than No. 44 while falling no lower than No. 68, her year-end ranking.[16] She did not win more than two main draw matches at any event all year.[11]

Osaka's best tournament result of the season came at the Canadian Open, where she reached the round of sixteen as a qualifier. During the event, she upset No. 16 Anastasija Sevastova before needing to retire against world No. 1, Karolína Plíšková, due to an abdominal injury. She had won the second set against Plíšková.[30] Her next best results of the year came at the last two major events of the season, where she made it to the third round at each of Wimbledon and the US Open. She had a strong debut at Wimbledon, upsetting No. 23 Barbora Strýcová, before losing to No. 11 Venus Williams.[31][32] Her US Open was then highlighted by her first-round win against defending champion and No. 6, Angelique Kerber, the first top-ten victory of Osaka's career.[33][34] However, her run was ended by veteran qualifier Kaia Kanepi.[35] This was the second consecutive year she lost in the third round of the US Open, after having at least a one-break lead in the third set.[36]

Osaka in particular struggled to play on clay courts. After winning her first two matches at the Charleston Open,[37] she did not win another main-draw match on clay the remainder of the season. Osaka did well in her first full grass-court season on the WTA Tour, going 4–4 behind her performance at Wimbledon.[11] Her biggest wins of the year all came on hardcourt. In addition to her results at the Canadian Open and the US Open, she also recorded a second top-ten victory over No. 5, Venus Williams, at the Hong Kong Open, her last tournament of the year.[38]

2018: US Open champion, world No. 4

edit
 
Osaka at the 2018 Nottingham Open

Following her lack of improvement in 2017, Osaka hired Sascha Bajin to be her coach in the off-season.[39][40] In their second tournament together, Osaka produced her career best result at a major event. At the Australian Open, she reached the fourth round after defeating two top-20 players in Elena Vesnina and hometown favorite Ashleigh Barty, ultimately losing to world No. 1, Simona Halep.[41][42][43] This result helped her return to the top 50 within the next month.[16]

At the Indian Wells Open, Osaka had the next big breakthrough of her career. Having never won a professional title or made it past the third round at a Premier Mandatory event, she won the tournament convincingly, only dropping one set in the middle round of the tournament. In the quarterfinals and semifinals, she defeated two top-five opponents in Karolína Plíšková and Halep, the latter of which was her first victory over a current No. 1 player.[44][45] She then closed out the tournament with a win in the final over fellow up-and-coming player Daria Kasatkina, making her the youngest champion at the event in ten years.[46] With her first title, she surged past her previous career-high ranking to No. 22 in the world.[16] Osaka played the following week as well at the Miami Open and extended her win streak by one additional match in her first meeting against her childhood idol, Serena Williams, who was competing in just her second tournament back from maternity leave.[47]

After her success in the early months of the season, Osaka had a rather quiet middle of the year. She reached the third round at both the French Open and Wimbledon, matching her best performance at each tournament.[48][49] The closest she came to winning another tournament was on grass at the Nottingham Open, where she lost to top seed Barty in the semifinals.[50]

Osaka did not have another breakthrough result until the US Open, where she won her second title of the year. Like at Indian Wells, she only dropped one set in the middle round of the event, this time to No. 20 Aryna Sabalenka. In the three early rounds, she only lost a total of seven games and notably recorded a double bagel victory against Aliaksandra Sasnovich.[51] Osaka was drawn against Madison Keys in the semifinals, and was able to avenge her tough loss from the 2016 US Open to advance to the final.[52] In the final, she defeated Serena Williams for the second time in 2018 to win her first major title. The match was marred and overshadowed by an on-court dispute between Williams and the umpire highlighted by Williams receiving a game penalty. Boos from the crowd continued during the match and the award ceremony.[53] Osaka later said that the win was "a little bit bittersweet" and "it wasn't necessarily the happiest memory."[54] Nonetheless, she became the first Japanese woman to contest a major singles final and the first Japanese Grand Slam singles champion.[55][56]

Now ranked in the top ten, Osaka extended her win streak to ten matches by reaching the final at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo for the second time in her career. Plíšková was able to end her win streak in the final.[57] Osaka then reached the semifinals at the Premier Mandatory China Open.[58] With her third consecutive deep run, she rose to a career-best ranking of world No. 4, matching the record of Kimiko Date and Kei Nishikori for the highest ranking held by a Japanese player in history.[59] Osaka closed out the year by participating at the WTA Finals, where she was grouped with Sloane Stephens, Angelique Kerber, and Kiki Bertens. She lost all three of her round-robin matches, notably retiring against Bertens due to a hamstring injury to end her season.[60] Osaka finished the year as the WTA Tour leader in prize money, having earned almost $6.4 million.[61]

2019: Australian Open title, world No. 1

edit

Osaka entered the Australian Open as the fourth seed and also one of eleven players in contention for the world No. 1 ranking.[62] She made it to the final against Petra Kvitová, having beaten Hsieh Su-wei in the third round despite being one set, 2–4 and 0–40 down at one point.[63] Anastasija Sevastova also won the first set against her in the fourth round, while No. 8 Karolína Plíšková pushed her to three sets in the semifinals.[64][65] After Osaka won the first set in the final, Kvitová saved three championship points before breaking Osaka in back-to-back service games to win the second set. Nonetheless, Osaka recovered to win the championship. She was the first woman to win consecutive major singles titles since Serena Williams in 2015, and was the first player to follow up her first Grand Slam singles title with another at the next such event since Jennifer Capriati in 2001.[66] She also became the first Asian player to be ranked No. 1 in the world in singles.[67][68] Despite this title, she parted ways with her coach Sascha Bajin following the tournament.[69]

Osaka struggled after the Australian Open. She lost in the fourth and third rounds at the two Premier Mandatory tournaments in March, the Indian Wells Open and the Miami Open.[70][71] After beginning the clay-court season with a semifinal at the Stuttgart Grand Prix where she withdrew due to an abdominal injury,[72] her best results were two quarterfinals at the Madrid Open and the Italian Open.[73] She also withdrew from the latter due to a right hand injury.[74] Osaka matched her best result at the French Open, losing to Kateřina Siniaková in the third round.[75] During the grass-court season, Osaka lost in the early rounds to Yulia Putintseva at both tournaments she entered, including the first round at Wimbledon.[76] As a result, she lost the No. 1 ranking to Ashleigh Barty.[16]

Before the US Open, Osaka made the quarterfinals at the two Premier 5 tournaments in August, the Canadian Open and the Cincinnati Open, where she was defeated by Serena Williams and Sofia Kenin respectively.[77][78] These performances helped her regain the No. 1 ranking so that she had the top seed at the US Open. Nonetheless, her title defense came to an end in the fourth round against Belinda Bencic, who defeated her for the third time during the year.[79] She then fell to No. 4 in the world.[16] Following the tournament, Osaka went back to having her father as her coach.[80] This change had an immediate impact, as Osaka won her next two tournaments. First, she won the Pan Pacific Open in her hometown of Osaka, defeating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the final.[81] Two weeks later, she won the Premier Mandatory China Open. During the tournament, she defeated reigning US Open champion Bianca Andreescu in the quarterfinals and world No. 1 and reigning French Open champion Ashleigh Barty in the final, both in three sets after losing the first.[82] This was Andreescu's first loss since March.[83] These results brought her to No. 3 in the world.[16] At the end of the season, Osaka qualified for the WTA Finals for the second consecutive year. However, after defeating Petra Kvitová in her first match, she withdrew due to injury.[84]

2020: Second US Open title

edit
 
Osaka at the 2020 Cincinnati Open in New York

Osaka only played four tournaments in 2020, largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the tour shutdown, she lost to No. 2 Karolína Plíšková in a semifinal at the Brisbane International and Coco Gauff in the third round of the Australian Open, squandering a chance to serve for the match in the former.[85][86] When the tour resumed, Osaka played the Cincinnati Open and the US Open, which were held in back-to-back weeks in New York. Osaka did not lose a match at either event. At the Cincinnati Open, she defeated four players ranked in the 20s before defaulting in the final against Victoria Azarenka due to a hamstring injury.[87][88] Both Osaka and Azarenka reached the final again at the US Open, where Osaka became the first player to win a US Open women's singles final by coming from a set down since 1994. This was her second US Open title in three years.[89][90] Following the US Open, Osaka skipped the French Open and ended her season because of her lingering hamstring injury.[91]

During both of these tournaments in New York, Osaka drew attention for her activism. She had initially withdrawn from the Cincinnati Open before the semifinal to raise awareness for the police shooting of Jacob Blake, only staying in the tournament after they chose to support her cause by postponing the event for a day.[92] At the US Open, Osaka walked onto the court for her seven matches wearing a different black mask, each of which with the name of an African American who had been killed in recent years often without significant repercussions.[93]

2021: Australian Open title, mental health issues

edit

Osaka was seeded third at the 2021 Australian Open. She recorded straight-sets wins over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Caroline Garcia, and Ons Jabeur, before defeating Garbiñe Muguruza in three sets in the fourth round despite facing match points during the third set (the only match in which she lost a set during the tournament). She went on to defeat Hsieh Su-wei in the quarterfinals, Serena Williams in the semifinals, and 22nd seed Jennifer Brady[94] in the final to claim her second Australian Open title.[95] She became one of only three players in the Open Era to win her first four Grand Slam finals, alongside Roger Federer and Monica Seles.[96][97]

Osaka returned to the Miami Open as the second seed, making the quarterfinals for the first time. She lost the quarterfinal in a shock defeat to Maria Sakkari, winning just four games.[98] As a result, Osaka missed out on regaining the No. 1 ranking.

Osaka was seeded second at the French Open. Shortly before the start of the tournament, she announced that she would not conduct her mandatory media assignments.[99] After Osaka won her first match in straight sets and did not hold a press conference, she was fined $15,000 and threatened with rising levels of fines and expulsion.[100] The following day, she announced her withdrawal from the tournament, citing mental health issues.[101] Many fellow athletes and sponsors have voiced support for Osaka, with some noting a rarely discussed issue of mental health, although the overall reaction from the wider tennis community was mixed.[102] On June 17, Osaka's agent announced that she would not participate in the upcoming Wimbledon Championships but would take part in the Tokyo Olympics.[103][104]

Osaka would later return to action at the Cincinnati Open where she was defending finalist. She beat Coco Gauff in the second round but was upset by Jil Teichmann in the third round, both in three sets.

At the US Open, Osaka failed to defend her title, losing her composure and the match to the eventual tournament runner-up, Canadian Leylah Fernandez in the third round, despite serving for the match in the second set. During the match, Osaka threw her racket and received a code violation for hitting a ball into the stands.[105] In her post-match press conference, Osaka announced another hiatus from the sport "for a while", revealing that winning did not make her happy anymore.[106]

2022: Miami Open final

edit

Osaka returned to competition at the Melbourne Summer Set 1 tournament seeded No. 1 and made the semifinals, before withdrawing due to an abdominal injury.[107] Her next tournament was the Australian Open, where she was seeded 13th and attempting to defend her title. However, she was eliminated in the third round by Amanda Anisimova, in three sets.[108] Osaka described being happy despite the loss and discussed steps she is taking to improve her mental health and have "more fun on the court".[109][110]

She dropped 71 spots in the WTA rankings to No. 85 following the tournament, with the tournament absences in 2021 contributing to the drop.[111]

In March, Osaka entered the Indian Wells Open where she beat Sloane Stephens in the first round, but lost to Veronika Kudermetova in straight sets in the second. Osaka was upset by a heckler in the crowd during the second round and was in tears during the match. Interviewed after the match, she compared her treatment to heckling at the tournament in 2001 that led the Williams sisters to boycott it for 13 years.[112]

The following week, Osaka entered the Miami Open. She reached her first final since the 2021 Australian Open after defeating 22nd seed Belinda Bencic in the semifinals. Ranked 77 at the time, she became the lowest ranked finalist in the tournament's history. However, she lost the final to second seed Iga Świątek, in straight sets.[113]

Following a right ankle injury at the Madrid Open, Osaka withdrew from the Italian Open.[114] On May 23, she lost in the first round of the French Open to Anisimova.[115]

Playing for the first time since the French Open, Osaka won her first-round match at San Jose against Zheng Qinwen in three sets, but lost in the next round to Coco Gauff, in straight sets.[116][117] At the Canadian Open, Osaka retired from her first match against Kaia Kanepi due to back injury.[118] Against home favorite Danielle Collins, Osaka started positive into the US Open but lost the first set in a tiebreak, and her first-round match in two sets. Her troubles continued at the Pan Pacific Open where, as the defending champion, she withdrew in the second round citing abdominal pain. She had played only one game in her first round match against Daria Gavrilova who retired due to a knee injury.[119]

2023: Pregnancy and hiatus

edit

Days before the Australian Open, Osaka announced her withdrawal from the championships, as she was expecting her first child with rapper Cordae.[120] In her withdrawal message, she confirmed with fans that she would be back for the Australian Open in 2024.[121][122] She later announced her return at the 2024 Brisbane International.[123]

2024: Two quarterfinals, French Open Świątek match

edit

Osaka made her return to professional tennis as a wildcard at Brisbane.[124] Playing her first professional match since September 2022, she defeated Tamara Korpatsch in the first round in straight sets, which included a 20-point first set tiebreak, before losing to defending champion Karolína Plíšková in the second round in a very tight three-set match.[125][126][127] In the Australian Open, Osaka faced Caroline Garcia in the first round, where she lost in straight sets.[128] In the Qatar Ladies Open, Osaka reached quarterfinals where she again lost to Karolína Plíšková.[129] Osaka returned to Indian Wells, securing straight set victories over Sara Errani and Liudmila Samsonova. She fell to the 24th seed Elise Mertens in the 3rd round. In Miami, Osaka took out Italian player Elisabetta Cocciaretto and Ukrainian Elina Svitolina in straight sets before falling to Frenchwoman Carolina Garcia in their third face-off of the year.

Osaka started her clay court season in Rouen, losing to clay court specialist and former French Open semifinalist, Martina Trevisan in straight sets.[130] She returned to Madrid with a comprehensive victory over Greet Minnen.[131] In a tough three-setter, Osaka lost to Samsonova in the second round.[132] She reached the fourth round in Rome, defeating notably seeded Daria Kasatkina and Marta Kostyuk in straight sets,[133] before falling to Zheng Qinwen.[134]

At the 2024 French Open, Osaka lost an unexpectedly close second-round match to the three-time winner and world No. 1 Iga Świątek where she had set point the first set and one match point.[135]

Osaka then returned to grass courts for the first time since 2019 in 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands. She made a winning return and beat fourth-seeded Elise Mertens in the first round,[136] eventually making it to the quarterfinals where she was defeated by Bianca Andreescu.[137] At the 2024 Wimbledon Championships, Osaka got through to the second round before losing to Emma Navarro.[138][139]

At the Canadian Open, Osaka defeated Ons Jabeur in the first round,[140] but was eliminated in the second round after losing to Elise Mertens.[141]

She reached the second round at the US Open with a win over 10th seed Jelena Ostapenko,[142] before losing to Karolína Muchová.[143]

Osaka played her next tournament at the China Open, making it through to the fourth round where she retired due to a back injury at the start of the third set against Coco Gauff.[144] On 21 October, she announced she was ending her season early because of her back injury.[145]

National representation

edit

Fed Cup

edit

Osaka made her Fed Cup debut for Japan in 2017, while the team was competing in the Asia/Oceania Zone Group I. Japan won all nine of their rubbers to advance out of their round-robin pool. Although Osaka won her singles match in the play-off against Kazakhstan, the team lost their other two matches and was not able to advance.[146] The following year with Osaka absent, Japan was able to defeat Kazakhstan in the same group to advance to the 2018 World Group II Play-offs.[147] In this stage, they hosted Great Britain in a usual five rubber tie. At this point, Osaka returned to the team and won her opening match against Heather Watson.[148] After she lost her next rubber to Johanna Konta, Kurumi Nara was also able to defeat Watson to set up a decisive doubles match. Japan won that final rubber to earn promotion to World Group II in 2019.[149]

Hopman Cup

edit

Osaka made her Hopman Cup debut in 2018 with Yūichi Sugita. Japan was making their first appearance at the exhibition tournament since 2001.[150] They were grouped with Switzerland, the United States, and Russia, and lost all three of their ties. Osaka's only match win came in singles against Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. She also had a big highlight in the mixed doubles match against Switzerland when she served an ace past Roger Federer.[151]

Olympics

edit

Osaka lit the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony.[152] Coming into Tokyo Olympics, Osaka was ranked 2nd in the world. She lost in the 3rd round of the games to eventual finalist and silver medalist Markéta Vondroušová after two straight set victories.[153]

Playing style

edit
 
Osaka serving

Osaka is an aggressive baseline player.[154] She has excellent raw power, especially on her forehand and her serve. Osaka could hit 160 kilometers per hour (100 mph) forehands at the age of sixteen, and her serve has been clocked at up to 200 kilometers per hour (124 mph), making her one of the ten fastest servers on record in WTA history.[155][156] While she can use her power to hit high numbers of winners, Osaka's key to success is to be able to win long rallies.[155] One of the first notable instances in which that strategy proved successful was when Osaka made her first career WTA final at the 2016 Pan Pacific Open.[157]

Osaka credited improving her mental approach and cutting down on unforced errors for her breakthrough season in 2018. At the Wuhan Open towards the end of the year, she noted, "I think my biggest improvement is mental. My game is more consistent, there are not so many unforced errors. I'm not sure how many I hit today, but sometimes last year I was hitting a lot!"[158] She attributed some of these changes to her coach Sascha Bajin, saying, "Since I was working with [Bajin] — and I tend to be a bit negative on myself — I feel like I've gotten a little bit more optimistic ... I fight myself a lot, so he's sort of been, like, the peacemaker." Bajin also agreed with Osaka on the impact of having a patient, positive approach in each match.[159]

Coaches

edit

Osaka was coached by her father Leonard François from the age of three.[3] Patrick Tauma was one of her first coaches after she began playing on the ITF Women's Circuit. He was her coach in 2013 when she reached her first ITF final.[6][160] In 2014, she spent seven months training at an academy run by Harold Solomon, a former top five player and French Open finalist who has coached many top women's tennis players including Jennifer Capriati and Mary Joe Fernández.[161][7] Under Solomon, Osaka defeated Sam Stosur for her first WTA match win.[7] Following her loss at the 2016 US Open where she could not convert a 5–1 lead in the third set, the Japan Tennis Association helped arrange for David Taylor to be her new coach.[155]

After the 2017 season, Osaka switched coaches to Sascha Bajin, who had previously served as a hitting partner to top players such as Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka, and Caroline Wozniacki.[162][159] With Bajin as her coach, Osaka won her first Premier Mandatory title and two Grand Slam singles titles.[46][56] She also rose to No. 1 in the world after having never previously been ranked above No. 40.[16] Bajin was named the inaugural WTA Coach of the Year in 2018.[163] Shortly after her 2019 Australian Open title, Osaka surprisingly split with Bajin, saying, she "wouldn't put success over [her] happiness."[69][164] She hired Jermaine Jenkins to be her new coach from March until October. Jenkins had previously worked as a hitting partner for Venus Williams.[165] Osaka temporarily replaced him with her father in September. She won her first two tournaments with him back as her coach.[166][80] She subsequently hired Wim Fissette at the start of the 2020 season[167] but announced on September 13, 2024, the end of their coaching relationship.[168]

In September 2024 Osaka added Patrick Mouratoglou as her coach.[169]

Endorsements

edit

Osaka is one of the most marketable athletes in the world. She earned an estimated $16 million in endorsements alone in 2019, which placed her second among female athletes behind only Serena Williams who earned $25 million.[170] The following year, she became the highest-paid female athlete of all time, having earned $37.4 million in total, including $34 million in endorsements.[171][172] Overall, she was the 29th highest-paid athlete in 2020 and the 8th highest-paid athlete in endorsements alone.[173][174]

Nike has been Osaka's apparel sponsor since 2019,[175] having replaced Adidas who had sponsored her for four years.[176] With Nike, Osaka has a clothing collection featuring her monogram logo that uses her initials and is inspired by the Japanese flag.[177][178] The Japanese sporting equipment manufacturer Yonex has supplied her with rackets since 2008.[179] She plays with the Yonex Ezone 98 racket, equipped with Polytour Pro 125 and Rexis 130 strings.[180] Osaka has been represented by the IMG management company since 2016.[181] In 2022, Osaka left IMG, in order to set up her own sports management agency, Evolve, alongside her agent, Stuart Duguid.

Osaka is a brand ambassador for Japanese automobile manufacturer Nissan and Japanese electronics manufacturer Citizen Watch.[179][182] She also endorses several other Japanese companies, including noodle maker Nissin Foods, cosmetics producer Shiseido, the broadcasting station Wowow, and airline All Nippon Airways (ANA).[183][184][185] Nissin Foods, one of the largest instant noodle companies internationally, was made to apologise and retract an advert, in which the company portrayed Osaka with white skin and light brown hair.[186][187]

In January 2021, Osaka was named the brand ambassador for Tag Heuer watches, as well as for Louis Vuitton; she appeared in their Spring-Summer 2021 campaign.[188] She is also endorsed by Beats Electronics, Bodyarmor SuperDrink, Mastercard, Panasonic, FTX, PlayStation, Levi's, Airbnb, Sweetgreen, Workday, and GoDaddy. Her endorsement portfolio was estimated to earn Osaka up to $60 million per year.[189] As a result of FTX's $11-billion bankruptcy, Osaka was sued for her involvement.[190][191] In February 2022, the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in a lawsuit against Bitconnect that the Securities Act of 1933 extends to targeted solicitation using social media.[192]

Panasonic announced the signing of Osaka as brand ambassador in June 2021.[193] She is a promoter of the "Panasonic Green Impact" initiative alongside Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps and Olympic figure skater Nathan Chen.[194] Panasonic enlisted the three celebrity athletes for its sustainability mission and they were part of an ad campaign for climate change that included individual commercials and a commercial in which all three athletes are featured.[195][196]

Activism

edit

Osaka has become a leading activist in professional tennis. Her decision to withdraw from the 2020 Cincinnati Open in New York to raise awareness for the police shooting of Jacob Blake led the tournament to postpone all Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and Women's Tennis Association (WTA) matches for a day in support of her cause.[197][92] At the 2020 US Open beginning the following week, each mask she wore as she walked onto the court (due to the COVID-19 pandemic) prominently displayed the name of an African American who had been killed in the preceding few years, the majority in the year before the tournament, and the majority killed by police. She highlighted Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin, George Floyd, Philando Castile, and Tamir Rice; and was praised directly by the parents of Martin and Arbery.[93][198] Prior to these acts of activism, Osaka had also travelled to Minnesota to attend the protests of the murder of George Floyd. She outlined her personal reasons for supporting the Black Lives Matter movement and protesting against police brutality in an op-ed in Esquire magazine.[199]

Osaka was named a 2020 Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year for her activism alongside the year's other prominent activist sports champions LeBron James, Breanna Stewart, and Patrick Mahomes, as well as medical worker Laurent Duvernay-Tardif.[200] She was also honored as one of the Time 100 most influential people in the world in 2020 for her activism, having also been named to the list in 2019 for representing professional tennis well as an excellent role model and a major champion.[201][202] Osaka's activism has drawn attention from the scholarly community studying celebrity and advocacy, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and following the police killing of George Floyd.[203][204]

Osaka has been featured as the main character in a manga series published by Kodansha in Nakayoshi, a leading Japanese shojo magazine. The series is being drawn by Futago Kamikita and was made with the help of Osaka's sister Mari. The first edition appeared in the February 2021 issue of the magazine, which was released in December 2020.[205][206] In March 2021, Osaka spoke out against anti-Asian hate crimes.[207]

Personal life

edit

Osaka began a relationship with American rapper Cordae (then YBN Cordae) in 2019.[208][209] In January 2023, not long after withdrawing from the Australian Open, Osaka revealed that she was pregnant with her first child with Cordae.[120] Osaka later confirmed she hoped to return to tennis for the 2024 Australian Open in January 2024, with her baby being due "in June or July 2023." During her pregnancy, Osaka was infected with Group B streptococcus, and had to undergo antibiotics for treatment. She also learned that the umbilical cord had been wrapped around her unborn child's neck.[210][211] On July 7, 2023, she welcomed a healthy baby girl.[212]

Mental health challenges and advocacy

edit

Osaka has lived with depression since the 2018 US Open.[213] In May 2021, she refused to take part in required press conferences during the French Open and was subsequently fined $15,000 and threatened with expulsion from the tournament. On May 31, Osaka withdrew from the event to deal with her mental health and well-being.[214] Less than a month later she also pulled out of Wimbledon citing "She is taking some personal time with friends and family."[215][216] She attempted to come back for the Olympics but the pressure of returning to the limelight was a factor in her third round loss.[217]

In September 2021 at the US Open, she lost to Leylah Fernandez and in the process threw her racket three times and received a code violation for firing a ball at the spectators.[218] Afterwards, when asked about the incident, she replied "I'm not really sure why" and "recently I feel very anxious when things don't go my way."[219] Osaka then announced she was taking an indefinite break from the sport. Later in 2021, she shared with Victoria's Secret that she is being assisted with therapy.[220]

At the 2022 Indian Wells Open, a heckler unsettled Osaka to the point of tears after which she had to return to therapy.[221] She said the consistent therapy "really helped" and she is better prepared for incidents in the future. In a May 2022 interview, Osaka shared that while there have been ups and downs, she feels very content with her mental health journey.[222]

Business endeavours

edit

In 2021, Osaka became a co-owner of the North Carolina Courage in the National Women's Soccer League, the top level of women's soccer in the U.S.[223][224] Osaka is an investor in a professional pickleball team which will be based in Miami, Florida, beginning in 2023.[225]

In May 2022, Osaka announced after being represented by IMG for six years, she is partnering with her agent, Stuart Duguid, to form her own sports agency, Evolve. Her contract with IMG expired at the end of 2021, and the renewal talks were stalled. Osaka and Duguid will have equity stakes in the new agency.[226] On June 20, 2022, Osaka announced that she had signed Nick Kyrgios as her first client.[227]

In 2022, Osaka and Duguid launched Hana Kuma, a media and production company.[228] It was initially launched in partnership with TheSpringHill Company and after a $5 million fundraising round, spun-off independently in 2023. The company has many ventures, including the video interview series "Good Trouble with Nick Kyrgios".[228] In 2024, Hana Kuma announced a partnership with the LPGA to create a brand building programme for female golfers.[229]

Career statistics

edit
Main article: Naomi Osaka career statistics

Grand Slam singles performance timeline

edit
Key
W  F  SF QF #R RR Q# DNQ A NH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.
To avoid confusion and double counting, these charts are updated at the conclusion of a tournament or when the player's participation has ended.
Naomi Osaka Grand Slam singles statistic
Tournament 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 SR W–L Win %
Australian Open A 3R 2R 4R W 3R W 3R A 1R 2 / 8 24–6 80%
French Open A 3R 1R 3R 3R A 2R[230] 1R A 2R 0 / 7 8–6 57%
Wimbledon Q1 A 3R 3R 1R NH A A A 2R 0 / 4 5–4 56%
US Open Q2 3R 3R W 4R W 3R 1R A 2R 2 / 8 23–6 79%
Win–loss 0–0 6–3 5–4 14–3 12–3 9–1 9–1 2–3 0–0 3–4 4 / 27 60–22 73%

[230] (Naomi withdraws in Second Round 2021 French Open)

Grand Slam tournament finals

edit

Singles: 4 (4 titles)

edit
Naomi Osaka Grand Slam singles finals statistics
Result Year Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Win 2018 US Open Hard   Serena Williams 6–2, 6–4
Win 2019 Australian Open Hard   Petra Kvitová 7–6(7–2), 5–7, 6–4
Win 2020 US Open (2) Hard   Victoria Azarenka 1–6, 6–3, 6–3
Win 2021 Australian Open (2) Hard   Jennifer Brady 6–4, 6–3

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Career Prize Money Leaders" (PDF). WTA Tennis. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  2. ^ "Naomi Osaka". WTA Tennis. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e Larmer, Brook (August 23, 2018). "Naomi Osaka's Breakthrough Game". The New York Times. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  4. ^ Noori Farzan, Antonia (September 10, 2018). "Japanese, Haitian, and now a Grand Slam winner: Naomi Osaka's historic journey to the U.S. Open". Washington Post. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  5. ^ "Naomi Osaka". National Women's History Museum. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Naomi Osaka Tennis Biography". Patrick Tauma. August 24, 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2018 – via YouTube.
  7. ^ a b c Downs, Tom. "Naomi Osaka: Japanese Firepower". Tennis View Magazine. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  8. ^ a b c Perrota, Tom (September 12, 2018). "Naomi Osaka: The Tennis Star Who Was Overlooked by Everyone". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  9. ^ a b c "Naomi Osaka Statistics". Core Tennis. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  10. ^ Uchida, Akira (October 5, 2016). "大坂なおみが18年間を振り返る「お姉ちゃんこそ最大のライバル」" [Naomi Osaka looks back over 18 years: 'My sister is my biggest rival']. Sportiva (in Japanese). Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Naomi Osaka". ITF Tennis. Archived from the original on September 23, 2018. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  12. ^ "Naomi Osaka: US Open champion's career in pictures". CNN. September 11, 2018. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  13. ^ "Qualifier Stuns Stosur In Stanford". WTA Tennis. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  14. ^ Nguyen, Courtney. "Watch: 16-year-old standout Naomi Osaka hits a massive forehand". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  15. ^ "Keys, Svitolina, Watson advance at Japan Women's Open". Tennis.com. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Naomi Osaka Rankings History". WTA Tennis. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  17. ^ "Osaka Wins WTA Rising Stars Invitational". WTA Tennis. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  18. ^ Lisanti, Jamie (January 23, 2016). "Australian Open Day 6: Keys beats Ivanovic after scare; Muguruza exits". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  19. ^ "Vamos Rafa! A Popular Nadal Tries Again At Miami Open". CBS Miami. Associated Press. March 25, 2016. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  20. ^ "Halep eliminates teenager Osaka in third-round match". Japan Times. Associated Press. Archived from the original on November 16, 2018. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  21. ^ Sarkar, Pritha (May 27, 2016). "Osaka falls short of acing a Japanese test". Reuters. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  22. ^ "Osaka Brilliant In Brazil". WTA Tennis. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  23. ^ "Osaka wins in U.S. Open debut; Olympic champ Puig falls". Japan Times. Archived from the original on November 16, 2018. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  24. ^ "Down 5–1 in third set, Madison Keys storms back to stun Naomi Osaka in Third Round". Tennis.com. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  25. ^ "Zhang Topples Osaka In Tokyo". WTA Tennis. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  26. ^ McKirdy, Andrew (September 21, 2016). "Overpowering Osaka eliminates Cibulkova". Japan Times. Archived from the original on January 16, 2022. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  27. ^ "Wozniacki Returns To Tokyo Final After Radwanska Upset". WTA Tennis. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  28. ^ "Wozniacki Wins First 2016 Title In Tokyo, Knocks Out Japanese Teen Osaka". WTA Tennis. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  29. ^ "Osaka: WTA Newcomer Of The Year". WTA Tennis. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  30. ^ "Pliskova serves up Toronto quarterfinal spot". WTA Tennis. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  31. ^ Culpepper, Chuck (July 5, 2017). "Venus Williams advances in her 20th Wimbledon. Her next opponent has been alive for 19 of them". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  32. ^ Harwitt, Sandra (July 7, 2017). "Venus Williams tested, beats Naomi Osaka at Wimbledon". USA Today. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  33. ^ Rothenberg, Ben (August 30, 2017). "Naomi Osaka Ousts Angelique Kerber, the Defending Champion, at the U.S. Open". The New York Times. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  34. ^ "Top 5 Upsets of 2017 (No. 5): Osaka sends Kerber crashing out in New York". WTA Tennis. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  35. ^ "Tennis: Tearful Osaka lays out broken heart after US Open loss". Straits Times. Agence France-Presse. September 3, 2017. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  36. ^ "Kaia Kanepi – Naomi Osaka". Flashscore.com. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  37. ^ "Rogers Rolls Past Osaka To Reach First Charleston QF". WTA Tennis. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  38. ^ "Naomi Osaka shocks her idol Venus Williams in Hong Kong". Sport360. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  39. ^ Moorman, Gale (December 13, 2017). "Will Sascha Bajin be the key to open Naomi Osaka's game in 2018?". Tennis World. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  40. ^ "Coaching in the Bigs: Sascha Bajin on His Coaching Strategies". Tennis Channel. January 24, 2018. Archived from the original on November 16, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  41. ^ "Naomi Osaka rolls past Elena Vesnina to reach third round of Australian Open". Japan Times. Associated Press. Archived from the original on March 30, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  42. ^ Mitchell, Kevin (January 20, 2018). "Ashleigh Barty's Australian Open ended by assured Naomi Osaka". Guardian. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  43. ^ Newbery, Piers (January 22, 2018). "Australian Open: Simona Halep beats Naomi Osaka to reach quarter-finals". BBC. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  44. ^ "Osaka serves up Pliskova upset, books Halep semifinal". WTA Tennis. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  45. ^ "Osaka overwhelms Halep to reach Indian Wells final". WTA Tennis. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  46. ^ a b "Osaka conquers Kasatkina to win first title in Indian Wells". WTA Tennis. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  47. ^ Tsuji, Alysha (March 22, 2018). "Naomi Osaka had the greatest reaction to beating Serena Williams at Miami Open: 'Omg'". USA Today. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  48. ^ Tignor, Steve (June 1, 2018). "Keys showed "veteran moves" and capacity for clay in win over Osaka". Tennis.com. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
  49. ^ Juzwiak, Jason (July 7, 2018). "Kerber cruises past Osaka to make Wimbledon fourth round". WTA Tennis. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
  50. ^ Chiesa, Victoria (June 16, 2018). "Barty overwhelms Osaka in Nottingham semis". WTA Tennis. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
  51. ^ "Is Naomi Osaka ready for a Grand Slam title? Is Naomi Osaka ready for a Grand Slam title?". US Open. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  52. ^ Drucker, Joel. "Dream Come True: Osaka beats Keys to set up final against Serena". Tennis.com. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  53. ^ Wallace, Ava (September 8, 2018). "Naomi Osaka upsets Serena Williams, who received game penalty, to win 2018 U.S. Open". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  54. ^ "Naomi Osaka: US Open title 'not the happiest moment' after Serena Williams' outbursts". BBC Sport. October 1, 2018. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  55. ^ Newman, Paul (September 7, 2018). "Naomi Osaka becomes first Japanese woman to reach a Grand Slam final". Evening Standard. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
  56. ^ a b Kane, David. "Osaka stuns Serena, captures first Grand Slam title at US Open". WTA Tennis. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  57. ^ "'With every win I feel better' – Pliskova powers to Tokyo title, snaps Osaka streak". WTA Tennis. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  58. ^ "Anastasija Sevastova defeats Naomi Osaka in China Open semifinals". Japan Times. October 6, 2018. Archived from the original on May 21, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  59. ^ Berkok, John. "Naomi Osaka historically reaches No. 4 in the WTA rankings". Tennis.com. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  60. ^ "'It's never nice to win a match like this': Bertens into WTA Finals SF after Osaka injury". WTA Tennis. October 26, 2018. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  61. ^ "U.S. Open Champion Naomi Osaka Tops Simona Halep In Money Rankings". Forbes. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  62. ^ Nguyen, Courtney. "Australian Open 2019: Eleven players vying for No.1 spot in Melbourne". WTA Tennis. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  63. ^ Crouse, Karen (January 19, 2019). "At Australian Open, Osaka Holds Off Hsieh, a Big-Seed Slayer With a Bedeviling Slice". The New York Times. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  64. ^ "Osaka outlasts Sevastova for first Australian Open quarterfinal". WTA Tennis. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  65. ^ "Naomi Osaka outplays Karolina Pliskova to reach Australian Open final". Japan Times. Associated Press. Archived from the original on February 3, 2019. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  66. ^ Trollope, Matt. "Top of the world: Osaka wins AO title, takes No. 1 ranking". Australian Open. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  67. ^ Ganguly, Sudipto (January 26, 2019). "Osaka edges Kvitova to claim Australian Open crown". Reuters. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  68. ^ "Osaka clinches second straight Slam, No.1 ranking at Australian Open over Kvitova". WTA Tennis. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  69. ^ a b "Split with Bajin not over money: Osaka". Reuters. February 18, 2019. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  70. ^ "Osaka shrugs off Indian Wells upset". Reuters. March 13, 2019. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  71. ^ "Hsieh shocks Osaka to reach Miami Open fourth round". WTA Tennis. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  72. ^ "Naomi Osaka withdraws from Stuttgart Open semi-final with abdominal injury". BBC Sport. April 27, 2019. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  73. ^ "Madrid Open: Naomi Osaka loses to Belinda Bencic; Simona Halep through". BBC. May 9, 2019. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  74. ^ "Naomi Osaka withdraws from Italian Open with right hand injury". The Japan Times. Associated Press. May 17, 2019. Archived from the original on May 30, 2019. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  75. ^ "Katerina Siniakova, doubles No. 1, ousts top seed Naomi Osaka". Tennis.com. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  76. ^ "'Winner or error, as long as I'm winning the point' – Putintseva maintains Osaka mastery in Wimbledon stunner". WTA Tennis. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  77. ^ "Serena Williams secures first win over Naomi Osaka in Toronto". Tennis.com. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  78. ^ "World No. 1 Naomi Osaka withdraws mid-match from Western & Southern Open with injury". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  79. ^ Macpherson, Alex (September 2, 2019). "Brilliant Bencic ends Osaka title defence again at US Open". WTA Tennis. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  80. ^ a b "Naomi Osaka's Haitian father is coaching her once again". The Haitian Internet. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  81. ^ "'I just wanted to win this really bad': Osaka powers to hometown title at Toray Pan Pacific Open". WTA Tennis. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  82. ^ "'My attitude was trash': Naomi Osaka beats Barty in China Open final". The Guardian. October 6, 2019. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  83. ^ "'I'm still here' – Osaka comeback halts Andreescu winning streak in Beijing quarterfinal thriller". WTA Tennis. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  84. ^ Nguyen, Courtney (October 29, 2019). "Naomi Osaka withdraws from Shiseido WTA Finals Shenzhen with injury, Bertens in as alternate". WTA Tennis. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  85. ^ "Pliskova saves match point, overcomes Osaka in Brisbane Classic: "I'm proud I hung in there"". WTA Tennis. January 11, 2020. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  86. ^ Streeter, Kurt (January 24, 2020). "Coco Gauff Defeats Reigning Champion Naomi Osaka at Australian Open". The New York Times. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  87. ^ "Naomi Osaka Matches". WTA Tennis. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  88. ^ "Osaka WD from Western & Southern Open final". ESPN. August 29, 2020. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  89. ^ "For a second US Open, Naomi Osaka shows she wins for more than herself". Tennis.com. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  90. ^ Clarey, Christopher (September 12, 2020). "Naomi Osaka, While Rallying for Social Justice, Wins U.S. Open Title". The New York Times. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  91. ^ "French Open 2020: Naomi Osaka pulls out with hamstring injury". BBC Sport. September 18, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  92. ^ a b "Naomi Osaka stops playing at Cincy Open as part of social justice protest". Kyodo News. August 27, 2020. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  93. ^ a b Ramsay, George (September 14, 2020). "These are the Black victims Naomi Osaka is honoring on face masks at the US Open". CNN. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  94. ^ Matias Grez (February 20, 2021). "Naomi Osaka overcomes Jennifer Brady to win second Australian Open title". CNN. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  95. ^ "Naomi Osaka overpowers Jennifer Brady to win second Australian Open". Guardian. February 20, 2021. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  96. ^ "Australian Open 2021 stats: Naomi Osaka emulates Roger Federer and Monica Seles; continues hardcourt dominance". ESPN. February 20, 2021.
  97. ^ "Australian Open 2021 – Naomi Osaka beats Jennifer Brady in straight sets to win women's title". ESPN. February 20, 2021.
  98. ^ "Sakkari Ends Osaka Winning Streak in Miami Quarters". WTA Tennis. March 31, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  99. ^ Martin, Jill (May 27, 2021). "Naomi Osaka says she won't do press conferences during the French Open". CNN. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  100. ^ Carayol (May 30, 2021). "Naomi Osaka fined for media snub and threatened with French Open expulsion". The Guardian. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  101. ^ Carayol, Tumaini (May 31, 2021). "Naomi Osaka withdraws from French Open amid row over press conferences". The Guardian. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  102. ^ McCurry, Justin; Hytner, Mike (June 2, 2021). "'Courageous': Japanese athletes and sponsors voice support for Naomi Osaka". The Guardian.
  103. ^ Lev, Jacob; Church, Ben (June 17, 2021). "Naomi Osaka will miss Wimbledon but plans on Tokyo Olympics return, says agent". CNN.
  104. ^ Futterman, Matthew (July 27, 2021). "Naomi Osaka's Loss Gives Tokyo Its Latest Olympic Setback". The New York Times.
  105. ^ "Tearful Naomi Osaka questions future after US Open loss to Leylah Fernandez". The Guardian. September 4, 2021. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  106. ^ Fendrich, Howard (September 4, 2021). "Osaka weighs another break from tennis after US Open loss". AP News. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  107. ^ El-Bawab, Nadine (January 9, 2022). "Naomi Osaka withdraws from Melbourne tournament due to injury". ABC News. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  108. ^ Jurejko, Jonathan (January 21, 2022). "Australian Open: Naomi Osaka proud despite Amanda Anisimova defeat". BBC Sport. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  109. ^ Pye, John (January 21, 2022). "Naomi Osaka Falls In Third Round At Australian Open". NBC10 Philadelphia. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  110. ^ Hess, Liam (January 21, 2022). "Naomi Osaka Is Out in Another Shock Defeat at the Australian Open". Vogue. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  111. ^ "Naomi Osaka falls to No. 85 in world rankings". The Japan Times. January 31, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  112. ^ "Naomi Osaka reduced to tears after being heckled in Indian Wells defeat". The Guardian. March 13, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  113. ^ "Osaka fires 18 aces, overcomes Bencic to reach first Miami Open final". Women's Tennis Association. March 31, 2022. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  114. ^ "Carlos Alcaraz and Naomi Osaka withdraw from Italian Open". CTVNews. May 9, 2022. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  115. ^ Clarey, Christopher (May 23, 2022). "Naomi Osaka Is Out in First Round of the French Open". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  116. ^ "Naomi Osaka takes wild card into San Jose". Women's Tennis Association. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  117. ^ Tennis.com. "Coco Gauff holds off late fightback to defeat Naomi Osaka and reach quarterfinals in San Jose". Tennis.com. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  118. ^ Williams, Madison. "Naomi Osaka Withdraws From Canadian Open Match With Injury". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  119. ^ "Osaka withdraws from Tokyo; Haddad Maia through to quarterfinals".
  120. ^ a b Kane, David (January 11, 2023). "Naomi Osaka expecting first child with rapper Cordae". Tennis.com. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  121. ^ Mesic, Dzevad (October 12, 2023). "Australian Open boss gives clear update on Naomi Osaka's 2024 participation". Tennis World USA. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  122. ^ Pratt, James (October 11, 2023). "Rafael Nadal and Naomi Osaka to make grand slam tennis returns at 2024 Australian Open". Olympics. Archived from the original on November 7, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  123. ^ "Naomi Osaka to begin 2024 comeback at Brisbane International".
  124. ^ "Wildcards confirmed for Brisbane International 2024". December 27, 2023.
  125. ^ "Naomi Osaka wins first elite tennis match in return from maternity leave – CBS News". CBS News. January 2024.
  126. ^ "Osaka exits early in tennis return". February 4, 2024.
  127. ^ "Osaka vs. Pliskova | Round of 32 Brisbane International presented by Evie 2024 | WTA Official". January 3, 2024.
  128. ^ Brewin, John (January 15, 2024). "Murray crashes out, Garcia knocks out Osaka, Auger-Aliassime sinks Thiem at Australian Open – as it happened". the Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  129. ^ "Swiatek eases into Doha semifinals; Pliskova tops Osaka in two tiebreaks". WTA Tennis. February 15, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  130. ^ Wright, Andrew (April 17, 2024). "Naomi Osaka Refuses to Make Excuses for Defear in Stuttgart to Martina Trevisan – 'I Have to Do Better'". Eurosport. Archived from the original on April 18, 2024. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  131. ^ Walker-Roberts, James (April 24, 2024). "Naomi Osaka 'Taking a Lot of Inspiration' from Clay Experts as She Seeks First Title on Surface". Eurosport. Archived from the original on April 25, 2024. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  132. ^ Mustapha, Ibrahim (April 25, 2024). "Naomi Osaka Beaten by Impressive Liudmila Samsonova to Exit Madrid Open in the Second Round". Eurosport. Archived from the original on April 25, 2024. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  133. ^ "Osaka returning to form ... on clay? You'd better believe it".
  134. ^ "A humble approach for Zheng pivotal in her win against Osaka in Rome".
  135. ^ Carayol, Tumaini (May 29, 2024). "Iga Swiatek digs deep to fend off Naomi Osaka in three-set French Open classic". The Guardian. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  136. ^ "Osaka beats Mertens to win first grass-court match in five years". WTA. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  137. ^ "Andreescu wins the battle against Osaka to reach 's-Hertogenbosch semi-finals". Tennis Majors. June 14, 2024. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  138. ^ Blinn; Michael (July 3, 2024). "Naomi Osaka crashes out of Wimbledon after 'doubts started trickling in'". Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  139. ^ "Osaka switches focus to Paris 2024 Olympics after early Wimbledon exit". Al Jazeera. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  140. ^ Kane, David (August 7, 2024). "Naomi Osaka makes Sailor Moon magic to stun Ons Jabeur in Toronto, kick off US Open swing". Tennis.com. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  141. ^ Nguyen, Courtney (August 8, 2024). "Sabalenka wins Toronto opener; Mertens ousts Osaka". WTA. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  142. ^ "Osaka wins on emotional US Open return". BBC Sport. August 27, 2024. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  143. ^ "'My heart dies every time I lose' - Osaka after US Open exit". BBC Sport. August 30, 2024. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  144. ^ "Coco Gauff helps carry Naomi Osaka's bags off court after shock China Open retirement". The Independent. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  145. ^ "Back injury forces Naomi Osaka to wrap up 2024 season early". Women's Tennis Association. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  146. ^ "Kazakhstan seals World Group II play-offs berth". Fed Cup. Archived from the original on November 16, 2018. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  147. ^ "Japan books place in World Group II play-offs". Fed Cup. Archived from the original on November 16, 2018. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  148. ^ "Japan and Great Britain level in Miki". Fed Cup. Archived from the original on November 16, 2018. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  149. ^ "Japan books its place among the world's elite for 2019". Fed Cup. Archived from the original on May 3, 2019. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  150. ^ Han, Don (December 29, 2017). "Hopman Cup Group B Preview: Japan vs Switzerland". Vavel. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  151. ^ "Swiss tennis champion Roger Federer aced by Japan's Naomi Osaka in Hopman Cup". Nine.com.au. December 31, 2017. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  152. ^ "Tokyo 2020: Osaka becomes the first tennis player to light the Olympic Cauldron". WTA Tennis. July 23, 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  153. ^ Futterman, Matthew (July 27, 2021). "Naomi Osaka's Loss Gives Tokyo Its Latest Olympic Setback". The New York Times.
  154. ^ "All You Need To Know About US Open Star Naomi Osaka". BeiN Sports. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  155. ^ a b c Thomas, Louisa. "The Thousand Autumns of Naomi Osaka". Racquet Magazine. Archived from the original on June 24, 2018. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  156. ^ Joseph, Adi (August 29, 2017). "Who is Naomi Osaka? 19-year-old stole U.S. Open spotlight with Round 1 upset". USA Today. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  157. ^ "SAP Coaches View: Osaka Outlasts In Tokyo". WTA Tennis. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  158. ^ "'My best performance yet' – Osaka steams past Goerges in Beijing". WTA Tennis. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  159. ^ a b Osborn, Richard. "Naomi Osaka's coach Sascha Bajin juggles coach, peacemaker roles". US Open. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  160. ^ Moorman, Gale. "Is Naomi Osaka a quiet warrior?". Tennis World USA. Archived from the original on March 17, 2018. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  161. ^ Oddo, Chris. "TN Q & A: Harold Solomon". Tennis Now. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  162. ^ Nguyen, Courtney. "Sascha Bajin in it for the long haul with Osaka: 'I've paid my dues'". WTA Tennis. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  163. ^ "Osaka's coach, Bajin, wins 1st WTA Coach of the Year award". USA Today. Associated Press. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  164. ^ "Osaka's split with coach shocks tennis world". Japan Times. February 13, 2019. Archived from the original on February 14, 2019. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  165. ^ Nguyen, Courtney (February 28, 2019). "Naomi Osaka hires Jermaine Jenkins as new coach". wtatennis.com. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  166. ^ "Tennis: Naomi Osaka announces split with coach Jermaine Jenkins". Kyodo News. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  167. ^ "Osaka names Wim Fissette as new coach". WTA Tennis. December 15, 2019. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  168. ^ "Osaka splits from coach Fissette". BBC Sport. September 14, 2024. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  169. ^ "Naomi Osaka arrives in Beijing with new coach Patrick Mouratoglou in tow".
  170. ^ "The Highest-Paid Female Athletes 2019: Serena And Osaka Dominate". Forbes. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  171. ^ Badenhausen, Kurt (May 22, 2020). "Naomi Osaka Is The Highest-Paid Female Athlete Ever, Topping Serena Williams". Forbes. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  172. ^ "Osaka Naomi highest-paid female athlete ever". NHK World-Japan. May 23, 2020. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  173. ^ "#29 Naomi Osaka". Forbes. May 22, 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  174. ^ "The World's Highest-Paid Athletes". Forbes. Archived from the original on August 18, 2020. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  175. ^ Anderson, Philip (April 6, 2019). "Naomi Osaka switches from Adidas to Nike!". Tennis World USA. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  176. ^ "Naomi Osaka close to signing historic deal with Adidas". New York Post. September 14, 2018. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  177. ^ Harwood, Erika (November 10, 2020). "Nike Debuted Its New Naomi Osaka Logo & Apparel Collection". Nylon. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  178. ^ Zaldivar, Gabe (November 13, 2020). "Naomi Osaka's Nike Collection is More Than a Multicultural Marvel". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  179. ^ a b Anzai, Akhide. "Naomi Osaka serves Japan brands a golden Olympic opportunity". Nikkei. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  180. ^ "Naomi Osaka (JPN)". Yonex. Archived from the original on September 23, 2018. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  181. ^ Gatto, Luigi (September 27, 2016). "Naomi Osaka signs with IMG". Tennis World USA. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  182. ^ "Citizen nominates tennis pro Naomi Osaka as new brand ambassador". Citizen Watch. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  183. ^ Newcomb, Tim. "The Continued Rise Of Naomi Osaka And Her Business Star". Forbes. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  184. ^ Du, Lisa. "Shiseido signs tennis star Osaka to help expand global appeal". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  185. ^ "All Nippon Airways announces sponsorship for tennis champion Naomi Osaka". Business Traveller. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  186. ^ "Naomi Osaka: Tennis star responds to 'whitewashed' ad". January 24, 2019. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  187. ^ Victor, Daniel (January 22, 2019). "Ad Showing Naomi Osaka With Light Skin Prompts Backlash and an Apology". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  188. ^ Oscar Holland (January 12, 2021). "Naomi Osaka revealed as the new face of Louis Vuitton". CNN. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  189. ^ "Naomi Osaka". Forbes. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  190. ^ Tennis.com. "Naomi Osaka among FTX celebrity promoters sued by crypto investors". Tennis.com. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  191. ^ "FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, Naomi Osaka named in crypto lawsuit". Nikkei Asia. Archived from the original on November 16, 2022. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  192. ^ Lawler, Richard (February 18, 2022). "Influencers beware: promoting the wrong crypto could mean facing a class-action lawsuit". The Verge. Vox Media. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  193. ^ "Panasonic Announces Signing of Professional Women's Tennis Player Naomi Osaka as Brand Ambassador". www.businesswire.com. June 24, 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  194. ^ "Panasonic launches a phygital CES booth with a sustainability message". VentureBeat. January 4, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  195. ^ Panasonic GREEN IMPACT Campaign Anthem, retrieved January 9, 2023
  196. ^ Panasonic GREEN IMPACT Campaign – Naomi Osaka, January 4, 2023, retrieved January 9, 2023
  197. ^ Macfarlane, Christina (May 13, 2020). "'I have a lot of regrets.' Tennis champion Naomi Osaka opens up about her crippling shyness". CNN. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  198. ^ Holcombe, Madeline; Martin, Jill (September 9, 2020). "Naomi Osaka nearly moved to tears by messages from families of Ahmaud Arbery and Trayvon Martin". CNN. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  199. ^ Osaka, Naomi (July 1, 2020). "I Never Would've Imagined Writing This Two Years Ago". Esquire. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  200. ^ "SI's 2020 Sportsperson of the Year: The Activist Athlete". Sports Illustrated. December 6, 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  201. ^ "Naomi Osaka: The 100 Most Influential People of 2019". Time. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  202. ^ "Naomi Osaka: The 100 Most Influential People of 2020". Time. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  203. ^ Deflem, Mathieu (2023). "The Criminal Justice Activism of Naomi Osaka: A Case Study in the Criminology of Celebrity Culture". American Journal of Criminal Justice. 48 (3): 723–748. doi:10.1007/s12103-022-09681-w. ISSN 1936-1351. PMC 9023043. PMID 35475124.
  204. ^ Deflem, Mathieu (2022). "Celebrity Activism on Racial Justice during COVID-19: The Death of George Floyd, the Rise of Naomi Osaka, and the Celebritization of Race in Pandemic Times." International Review of Sociology 32(1): 63–87. doi=10.1080/03906701.2022.2052457
  205. ^ Lee, Choo Sum (November 30, 2020). "Tennis Champion Naomi Osaka Stars in New Manga". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  206. ^ "Japan's tennis champion Naomi Osaka inspires manga character". BBC. November 30, 2020. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  207. ^ "Naomi Osaka speaks out against anti-Asian hate crimes". The Japan Times. March 29, 2021. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  208. ^ "YBN Cordae Discusses Girlfriend Naomi Osaka's U.S. Open Success". Complex. Archived from the original on September 2, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  209. ^ "Top 5 Photos 8/26: Osaka wishes Cordae a happy birthday". Baseline Tennis. August 26, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  210. ^ Mohamed, Aman (April 4, 2023). ""I'll be competing in Australia next year"- Naomi Osaka reveals her plans to return to Melbourne in 2024". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  211. ^ "Naomi Osaka talks relationship with Cordae after breakup rumors". New York Post. December 14, 2023. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  212. ^ "Naomi Osaka Welcomes First Baby, a Girl, with Boyfriend Cordae (Exclusive)". People.com. July 7, 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  213. ^ "Naomi Osaka shares mental health tips". Good Morning America. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  214. ^ "Naomi Osaka reveals mental health struggles". NPR. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  215. ^ "Naomi Osaka pulls out of Wimbledon". The Hill. June 17, 2021. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  216. ^ "Naomi Osaka's French Open and Wimbledon withdrawals highlights athletes' mental health". Global Voices. June 22, 2021. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  217. ^ "Naomi Osaka admits mental health break contributed to shock loss at Tokyo Olympics". Independent.co.uk. July 27, 2021. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  218. ^ "Naomi Osaka tearfully reveals she doesn't know if she'll play tennis again". Best Life. September 4, 2021. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  219. ^ "I'm dealing with stuff". TheGuardian.com. September 4, 2021. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  220. ^ "Naomi Osaka joins VS Collective, talks mental health and fashion". Women's Wear Daily. November 17, 2021. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  221. ^ "Naomi Osaka utilizing therapy after emotional incident with heckler". People. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  222. ^ "Naomi Osaka is still prioritizing her mental health". Blavity. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  223. ^ "Naomi Osaka debuted a new kit at the Australian Open for the NWSL team she now owns". Insider. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  224. ^ "Ownership". North Carolina Courage. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  225. ^ Knight, Brett (December 14, 2022). "Naomi Osaka And Patrick Mahomes Join Wave Of Celebrities Investing In Pickleball". Forbes. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  226. ^ "Naomi Osaka forms her own sports agency". Bizjournals. May 13, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  227. ^ Snowball, Ben (June 20, 2022). ""Unlike any other" – Nick Kyrgios snapped up by Naomi Osaka's Evolve agency ahead of Wimbledon 2022". Eurosport. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  228. ^ a b Weprin, Alex (January 30, 2024). "Naomi Osaka's Hana Kuma Signs With CAA (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  229. ^ "LPGA and Hana Kuma Join Forces to Launch Innovative Athlete Brand Building Program | LPGA | Ladies Professional Golf Association". LPGA. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  230. ^ a b "2021 French Open – Women's singles", Wikipedia, January 21, 2024, retrieved June 5, 2024
edit
 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Naomi Ōsaka.
Sporting positions
Preceded by World No. 1
January 28 – June 23, 2019
August 12 – September 8, 2019 		Succeeded by
Awards
Preceded by WTA Newcomer of the Year
2016 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year
2021 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Olympic Games
Preceded by Final Olympic torchbearer
Tokyo 2020 along Ayaka Takahashi 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Final Summer Olympic torchbearer
Tokyo 2020 along Ayaka Takahashi 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wiki.x.io/w/index.php?title=Naomi_Osaka&oldid=1261242257"