Naomi Osaka
Professional tennis player
Naomi Osaka is a Japanese professional tennis player who rose to become one of the dominant figures in the women's game and a former world No. 1. A multiple Grand Slam singles champion, she is known both for her powerful baseline play and for her prominent advocacy on issues including mental health and racial justice.
Early life
Osaka was born on October 16, 1997, in Osaka, Japan, to a Japanese mother and a Haitian father. When she was young her family moved to the United States, where she and her older sister, Mari, were raised and took up tennis under their father's guidance. The family settled in Florida, a hub for tennis development, and Osaka trained intensively through her childhood and teenage years. She represents Japan in international competition.
Career
Osaka turned professional as a teenager and steadily climbed the rankings, drawing attention for her serve and aggressive groundstrokes. Her breakthrough arrived in 2018 when she won the US Open, defeating Serena Williams in a final that drew enormous global attention. She followed that title by winning the Australian Open in early 2019, a result that lifted her to the world No. 1 ranking and made her the first player from Asia to hold the top position in singles.
She added further major titles, winning the US Open again in 2020 and the Australian Open in 2021, bringing her total to four Grand Slam singles championships. During this period she became one of the highest-earning athletes in the world, attracting significant endorsement partnerships and ranking among the most marketable figures in international sport.
Recent work
Osaka has been an influential voice off the court. In 2020 she drew attention for wearing masks bearing the names of victims of racial injustice during the US Open, using her platform to highlight social causes. In 2021 she withdrew from the French Open and spoke openly about her struggles with anxiety and depression, helping to spark a broader public conversation about mental health among elite athletes. She stepped back from competition at times to prioritize her wellbeing.
After taking time away from the tour, including a period following the birth of her child, Osaka returned to professional competition. Alongside tennis she has pursued business and media ventures, including involvement in athlete representation and ownership stakes in sports franchises, and has continued to work as a brand ambassador. Widely admired for her candor and her willingness to address difficult subjects, Osaka remains one of the most recognizable athletes of her era as she continues to compete on the WTA Tour.