(VIDEO) Osaka stars in Nike promo heavily pregnant alongside Alcaraz

Sunday, 13 August 2023 at 05:00

Naomi Osaka took part in Nike's new campaign alongside Carlos Alcaraz and other prominent athletes.

The 4-time Grand Slam champion recently gave birth to her first daughter, Shai, with her boyfriend Cordae. Despite her absence from the WTA tour in 2023, Naomi Osaka remains one of the most significant figures in tennis and participated in Nike's new promotion.

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Over the past years, the Japanese player has been the top earner among tennis players due to her endorsement deals, and one of her major sponsors is the sportswear brand Nike, which also counts world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz among its ambassadors.

In the promotional video, Osaka is visibly pregnant, and it features other renowned athletes from various disciplines, such as soccer players Alejandro Garnacho and Tyler Adams, snowboarder Chloe Kim, and basketball player Yang Liwe.

As acknowledged by Naomi Osaka's agent, Stuart Duguid, the former world No. 1 tennis player was initially delighted about her pregnancy. However, concerns about her sponsorship commitments arose afterward.

“Obviously when Naomi first told me it was like just obviously delighted for her and happy for her, but then there’s the moment where you realize you have to make all these calls [to the sponsors],” Duguid said.

“I would say, say almost every single conversation went really, really well. I’ll be very honest, the most important conversation for me and for us was probably our Nike conversation, which wasn’t really a conversation thanks to what you had done,” he added.

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“So that situation was already covered in the past. There was a cause in the contract which defined exactly what would happen if Naomi was pregnant and that all came on the back of your experience with that,” Duguid concluded.

Naomi Osaka has announced her intention to return to the WTA tour in 2024. She is determined to compete at the highest level once again and continue adding to her impressive collection of titles, which currently stands at seven, including four Grand Slam championships and two WTA 1000 titles.

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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