"That's how I wanted her to feel, like she's God's gift to me & her dad": Osaka explains meaning behind Shai name for daughter

Former world number one Naomi Osaka has revealed the reason behind naming her daughter ‘Shai’.

The 25-year-old and her partners recently announced the arrival of their daughter whom they name Shai.

Talking about it during the US Open, Osaka stated that the meaning of Shai is a ‘God’s gift’ and that’s why she gave that name to her daughter.

"Shai means 'God's gift' and that's how I wanted her to feel, like she's God's gift to me and her dad," she said.

Talking about how it feels to become a mother, Osaka revealed that sometimes it feels weird that someone is relying on her but that she is excited to be a part of a new journey.

"It's definitely a weird feeling knowing that someone relies on me," she said. "I still call my mom all the time, and knowing that this little person is going to grow up and do the same ... I'm excited for it."

Osaka has been on a lengthy break from tennis as she has not played any match at the highest level since September last year.

The Osaka-born is a four-time Grand Slam winner despite taking multiple breaks in her still relatively young career.

Her first major triumph came in 2018 in the US Open where she defeated America’s legendary tennis player Serena Williams in the final in straight sets with a score of 6-2, 6-4.

Her last big triumph at the court came in 2021 when she defeated America’s Jennifer Brady in the final in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 6-3 to lift the Australian Open title.