How Motherhood has Made Naomi Osaka a Better Tennis Player
(Inside/Panoramic)
Mother's Day will surely be a Grand Slam for Naomi Osaka. This weekend, Osaka is in Rome competing in the Italian Open, and a match is scheduled for the round of 16 tomorrow morning.
After taking a break from the tennis tour at the beginning of 2024, the former world number-one ranking player has returned and convincingly won her first two matches in the clay court tournament.
In 2023, she announced that she would withdraw from the Australian Open because she was expecting her first child with rapper Cordae. The couple met at a LA Clippers game in 2019. On July 7, 2023, she gave birth to their daughter, Shai. Four days later, Cordae revealed their daughter's name at his concert, Shai. Shai means "God's gift" in Hebrew, and Osaka stated that she always wants her daughter to feel like she's God's gift to her and her dad.
Like many other mothers, her pregnancy was not a smooth journey. She experienced several complications, including an infection with Group B streptococcus, which can potentially lead to stillbirth. She later learned that her daughter was born with a nuchal cord, meaning that the umbilical cord had wrapped around her neck.
In January 2024, the 4-time Grand Slam singles champion and her daughter participated in a photo shoot for Glamour magazine. Shai was photographed from the back without revealing her face. Later in the same month, Osaka returned to tennis as a wildcard participant at the Brisbane International tournament.
Osaka has made history in tennis by becoming the first Asian player to hold the female number one ranking. However, she has also experienced depression and anxiety since the 2018 US Open. Despite her public struggles, she has opened up about how motherhood has been a significant moment of growth for her, both as a woman and a tennis player.
“I just don’t really care about other people’s opinions anymore”
The unwavering motivation and support of Shai has become a driving force behind her desire to win and connect better with her fans.
“I just really appreciate people coming out and knowing me and cheering for me because I feel like there was a time I was just a little kid trying to watch my role models play”
She has leveraged her influence to champion a cause close to her heart-advocating for paid family and medical leave in the US. This is a significant issue, considering the US is one of the few countries without a national policy for paid parental leave. In a powerful Instagram post, she announced her partnership with the formula brand Bobbie in a campaign to push for the approval of the Family and Medical Leave Act. This act, if passed, would provide 12 weeks of paid leave to parents, job protection, and a minimum monthly benefit of $580.
Osaka is not just a tennis champion but a beacon of empowerment. She is using her platform to advocate for those in less privileged situations, setting a powerful example for her daughter and future generations.
Let's raise a toast to all the amazing mothers out there who are passionate about sports and athletics while also being devoted to their children. These incredible women juggle their responsibilities as mothers and their love for sports with grace and dedication, and they deserve all the recognition and appreciation for their hard work and commitment.