TORONTO, ON – AUGUST 7 – Naomi Osaka takes a group selfie with fans, using a lady’s iPhone, after defeating ninth-ranked, Ons Jabeur 6-3, 6-1, during first round action at the 2024 National Bank Open, at Sobeys Stadium. August 7, 2024 (Howard Bailey photo)
Every time Naomi Osaka steps onto a tennis court, she carries the hopes and dreams of thousands of Black, Asian and biracial girls and boys, on her shoulders.
Being born in Japan, to a Haitian father and Japanese mother, then living in the United States, since the age of three, influenced her understanding and appreciation of the importance of every child, seeing someone who looks like them, doing what they aspire to do, in the future.
“I think for me, representation is really important,” said Osaka, during a post-match press conference at Toronto’s National Bank Open tennis tournament, in August 2024.
“I know I wouldn’t be here without my role models, Serena and Venus. Just to, I guess, blaze that path for other kids is really cool,” she continued.
TORONTO, ON – AUGUST 7 – Naomi Osaka posed for a selfie with a fan, after defeating ninth-ranked, Ons Jabeur 6-3, 6-1, during first round action at the 2024 National Bank Open, at Sobeys Stadium. August 7, 2024 (Howard Bailey photo)
Since giving birth to her daughter, Shai, in July 2023, Osaka also carries the aspirations of a massive number of mothers.
New and working moms are inspired each time that they’ve watched her return to her workplace, the tennis court, battling for every point, regardless of who she faces on the other side of the net.
TORONTO, ON – AUGUST 7 – Naomi Osaka hits a return, during first round action at the 2024 National Bank Open, on route to defeating ninth-ranked, Ons Jabeur 6-3, 6-1, at Sobeys Stadium. August 7, 2024 (Howard Bailey photo)
“Since becoming a mom, I think the word ‘role model’ has always been heavy to me,” stated Osaka, during the same post-match press conference, in Toronto.
“But now I’m looking at kids looking at me and saying that I’m their favourite player, and knowing that they have a parent behind them, that’s kind of trusting me with that, is really huge.”
Osaka carries her new responsibilities well, continuing to model excellence for her admiring fans, many of whom are mothers and children.
TORONTO, ON – AUGUST 7 – Naomi Osaka takes a selfie with a fan, using the lady’s iPhone, after defeating ninth-ranked, Ons Jabeur 6-3, 6-1, during first round action at the 2024 National Bank Open, at Sobeys Stadium. August 7, 2024 (Howard Bailey photo)
They have watched her work through challenging situations, on and off the court.
“Today, while I was signing autographs, a mom talked to me, and she said that she was having a tough time, and something that I said on court really helped her out,” Osaka stated.
“I still feel like I’m figuring myself out, so I’m always a little shocked when someone says that something that I’ve said or done has helped them out, but I really treasure that a lot. I think we’re all just trying to get through it, and we’re all just trying to find the best way that we know how and, yeah, it’s a really big honour for me.”
Osaka’s 2024 New Year’s Day tweet resonated with over 300,000 people.
“Dear moms,
Everybody and every body is different. Don’t compare yourself to
Her reach truly is universal. She understands and empathizes with the challenges and expectations that many of today’s mothers face, regardless of their ethnicity, their socioeconomic background or nationality.
Currently ranked No. 42, Osaka’s battle to regain the poise, form and consistency that once made her one of the WTA’s top ten single’s players, makes her journey relatable to highly motivated career women, who have often struggled to reestablish themselves vocationally, while maintaining a healthy work-life balance, after returning from maternity leave.
“I think there’s so much stress on moms to bounce back or get back to something,” replied Osaka, when asked about this post on X.
“I feel like it’s a beautiful, magical thing that you’ve created a life inside of you, and you almost don’t even really get to treasure that moment.”
“I feel like giving birth is normalized, and almost every mom that I know has had a really difficult pregnancy and labour, so I wish that women could see how strong they are, but also not feel too many expectations at the same time to, I guess, look a certain way or be a certain way.”
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