Naomi Osaka is more than a Tennis Player, four-time Grand Slam Champion, and Athlete. Naomi Osaka is a young woman making her way through the world. Learning, growing, and enlightening other young women along the way.
Naomi Osaka was Born in Chuo Ward, Osaka, Japan on October 16th, 1997 to parents Tamaki Osaka and Leonard Francois. Osaka is Haitian and Japanese. When Osaka came into the world, her family knew she was destined for greatness. Osaka became a professional Tennis Player in September of 2013 when she entered her first two qualifying matches.
Childhood
Osaka started playing tennis when she was only three years old. She was born in the United States but she also has Japanese citizenship. Osaka’s parents met in Japan and dreamed to be married. Naomi’s mother is from Japan and her father is Haitian. Her mother’s family thought it would be a disgrace if she were to marry her father, but love prevails and her parents were married. Afterward, Naomi and her family moved to Osaka where they all lived.
Leonard Francois, Osaka’s father, was inspired to teach his daughters how to play tennis because of a match he saw between Venus and Serena Williams. Francois also enjoyed how it was their father who taught them how to play. Eventually, when she was 3, Osaka and her family moved to Long Island where her father’s family resided. In the beginning, Osaka and her younger sister went to public school but eventually, their dedication to the sport led them to be homeschooled.
Her Career
Osaka went right into matches with the pros. 2013 was the year she became pro but 2016 was the year she was recognized as “Newcomer of the Year”. Also in 2016, Naomi reached her first WTA final at the 2016 Pan Pacific Open in Japan. Later in 2018, Osaka had her first win at the Indian Wells Open, receiving her first WTA title.
Later in her career, Osaka defeated legend and Grand Slam Champion, Serena Williams. This made Osaka the first Japanese player to win a Grand Slam title. Since 2018, Osaka’s wins as the Grand Slam Champion have been consecutive.
Naomi Now
Recently, Osaka became the recipient of another Grand Slam title at her second Australian Open. She went against Serena Williams and won, then she went against Jennifer Brady and won that match as well, taking the title.
Other than being a legend in the making, Osaka has always been an activist and there for the Black community. She continues to enlighten others about the trials and hardships Black people have gone through and how they can help.
Osaka is currently taking full advantage of her time off. When it’s time for her to come back, we know that she’ll be making a comeback.