Former World No.1 Naomi Osaka recently gave birth to a baby girl, and the Japanese superstar appears to have developed a new mindset as she begins her first journey as a mother.
The 25-year old had her first child alongside rapper boyfriend Cordae, and has had time to dwell on juggling being a professional athlete and a mom at the same time.
The four-time Grand Slam champion posted a sonogram after announcing her pregnancy, along with a thoughtful message.
"These few months away from the sport has really given me a new love and appreciation for the game I've dedicated my life to," she wrote. "I realize that life is so short and I don't take any moments for granted, every day is a new blessing and adventure. ... One thing I'm looking forward to is for my kid to watch one of my matches and tell someone, 'That's my mom.'"
Although she was greeted by heartwarming messages from her peers and thousands of fans, the Australian Open champion was still the recipient of some negative messages. This led to Osaka leaving a rather insightful response on Twitter.
"Btw to the people that are suddenly concerned about my career -- There are plenty of male athletes with kids that are significantly less accomplished, you might wanna worry about them instead. Thanks for the concern, might wanna redirect it to someone that needs it though."
Osaka has confirmed that she'd like to return to tennis in time for the 2024 Olympics in Pars.
Growing up in a household where soccer was king, my earliest memories are filled with chants from packed stadiums and the rhythm of a ball being passed across neighborhood streets. But somewhere along the way, the quiet elegance and raw emotion of tennis pulled me in. What began as a curiosity became a lifelong passion; not just for the sport itself, but for the stories it tells: of grit, of heartbreak, of improbable comebacks and human resilience.
As a tennis writer, I bring the observational lens of someone who didn’t grow up in the sport, but fell in love with it as an outsider; a perspective that lets me see both its technical beauty and its emotional depth. Over the years working with TennisUpToDate, I’ve had the privilege of reaching more than 3.5 million readers worldwide, with one of my features ranking among the site’s top three articles.
With a background in storytelling and a creative mind always searching for meaning beyond the scoreboard, I aim to craft narratives that go deeper than results and rankings. Whether it’s a rising star breaking through or a veteran fighting off Father Time, I try to capture the heartbeat behind the headlines.
OH BABY! @naomiosaka and @cordae are officially parents, the two welcomed their baby girl in Los Angeles. Welcome to the world niece, we can't wait for you to see your parents shine. 👶🏽❤️
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