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.

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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.

Deduplicated reporting · visible evidence

Latest Clippings

Current work, broadcasts and public milestones, each linked to the primary record used for publication.

Verified news · projects · public record

Latest Index

2026

NewsChecked against a primary source or trusted newsroom.

ScopeOnly attributable updates about Naomi Osaka's work and public record.

News
September singles result
The US Open records her fourth-round loss to Elena Rybakina.
7 Sept 2026Personally read original tournament result; checked 2026-10-02
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News
A basketball-inspired US Open entrance
Osaka discusses Who Decides War and Law Roach’s custom outfit; Nike athlete branding is part of the context.
31 Aug 2026Personally checked original publication or first-party release record
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News
Fashion and a changing public profile
Her Washington press conference discusses creative interests alongside tennis.
26 Jul 2026Personally read direct press-conference reporting; checked 2026-10-02
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News
A first Wimbledon quarterfinal
WTA reports her win over Aryna Sabalenka. This milestone is a completed result.
5 Jul 2026Personally checked original publication or first-party release record
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Project
The Second Set announced
Tubi introduces Kathleen Jayme’s documentary, produced with Hana Kuma, Nike and Uninterrupted.
17 Jun 2025Personally checked original publication or first-party release record
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News
A public co-parenting statement
Her January statement confirms the Cordae split and a commitment to co-parenting.
6 Jan 2025Personally checked original publication or first-party release record
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Project
An authored picture book
The Way Champs Play reaches hardcover publication, with illustrations by Kamala Nair.
6 Dec 2022Personally checked original publication or first-party release record
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News
Finding her own boundaries
Her original interview explores family support and choosing how to meet public attention.
8 May 2022Personally checked original publication or first-party release record
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Project
A three-part documentary portrait
The BBFC record establishes Garrett Bradley’s 2021 Netflix limited series and July 16 release.
16 Jul 2021Personally checked original publication or first-party release record
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Latest Index

September singles result

A basketball-inspired US Open entrance

Fashion and a changing public profile

A first Wimbledon quarterfinal

The Second Set announced

A public co-parenting statement

An authored picture book

Finding her own boundaries

A three-part documentary portrait