Portrait · Tatiana / Kulitat; crop by Kacir / CC BY-SA 2.0

Naomi Osaka

Tennis player, author and producer

Born 1997

Naomi Osaka is a Japanese tennis player, author and producer born in Osaka in 1997. Her mother is Japanese and her father is Haitian. Her family moved to the United States when she was a young child; she and her older sister Mari trained together, with their father guiding their first years on public courts. Florida training and home schooling later allowed tennis to shape the family’s daily life. Original longform interviews describe the sisters’ close companionship and the practical support of both parents. Osaka entered WTA qualifying in 2013 and made her main-draw debut at Stanford the next year. A Tokyo final and the 2016 WTA Newcomer honor signaled her arrival. Indian Wells and the US Open became her first tour championships in 2018. She added the Australian Open in 2019 and reached world No.1. Her second US Open and Australian Open titles brought the major total to four. Play Academy, created with Nike and Laureus in 2020, extends her interest in girls’ access to sport. The North Carolina Courage announced her investment in 2021. A period away from competition included the birth of her daughter Shai in 2023, before her tour return. More recent tournament records include Auckland and Montreal finals, a Saint-Malo title and a US Open semifinal in 2025. Her 2026 Wimbledon run reached a first quarterfinal after a victory over Aryna Sabalenka. Her September US Open campaign ended in the fourth round against Elena Rybakina. In a January press conference, she described offseason work on decision-making and recognising chances to move forward. The same conversation describes bedtime reading with her daughter, keeping family life alongside competition. Beyond matches, Garrett Bradley’s three-part Netflix series documents her life, while Kathleen Jayme’s The Second Set follows another chapter. She co-founded Hana Kuma with Stuart Duguid and is an executive producer of Julie Keeps Quiet. Her children’s book The Way Champs Play, illustrated by Kamala Nair, treats sport as something children can share. Her public style work also connects tennis with fashion: a 2026 US Open interview explains a basketball-inspired collaboration with Who Decides War and Law Roach. First-person accounts of music, food, training and beauty are retained with their dates and sponsor context. Historical pet answers and her public co-parenting statement remain carefully scoped to what the sources establish.

Verified identityCore facts checked against named sources.

Keep exploring

Connected people

ConnectionMari OsakaOlder sister and early tennis companion.

ConnectionCordaeFormer partner; publicly stated co-parenting relationship.

ConnectionSerena WilliamsTennis inspiration and opponent in the 2018 US Open final.

Official records · wins and honours

Awards & Honours

Selected recognition linked to the awarding organisation or primary record.

2021
Laureus World Sports AwardsCompetitive win
Sportswoman of the Year
Naomi Osaka
Official record
2021
ESPYCompetitive win
Best Athlete, Women’s Sports
Naomi Osaka
Official record
2021
ESPYCompetitive win
Best Athlete, Women’s Tennis
Naomi Osaka
Official record
2020
Laureus World Sports AwardsNomination
Sportswoman of the Year — nominee
Naomi Osaka
Official record
2020
Sports IllustratedCompetitive win
Sportsperson of the Year — shared honoree
Naomi Osaka
Official record
2019
Laureus World Sports AwardsCompetitive win
Breakthrough of the Year
Naomi Osaka
Official record
2016
WTACompetitive win
Newcomer of the Year
Naomi Osaka
Official record

Sportswoman of the Year

Best Athlete, Women’s Sports

Best Athlete, Women’s Tennis

Sportswoman of the Year — nominee

Sportsperson of the Year — shared honoree

Breakthrough of the Year

Newcomer of the Year