8 Things You Didn’t Know About Naomi Osaka

Naomi Osaka is one of the most intimidating and approachable players in women’s tennis right now. On the one hand, she’s a four-time Grand Slam champion who earned $37.4 million in prize money and sponsorships in one year, making her the highest-paid female athlete in history.

Whether you’re a casual tennis fan or follow the major events, here are 10 fun facts about one of the sport’s top stars you might not know.

8 Things You Didn’t Know About Naomi Osaka

1. Moved To the US

She moved to the United States when she was three years old.
While Osaka represents Japan, she has lived and trained in the United States since she was a child.

2. Can Speak 3 Different Languages

Osaka knows a little bit of three languages because her mother is Japanese and her father is Haitian: English, Japanese, and Creole, which she learned from her paternal grandparents. Nonetheless, she prefers to answer queries in English during interviews because it is the language in which she is most comfortable. ^[1]

3. Get Coached By Her Dad

Osaka began playing tennis at the age of three under the tutelage of her father, Leonard François, who followed a similar methodology to that of Serena and Venus Williams’ father, training both Osaka and her sister Mari. ^[2]

4. Her Dating Life

In an interview with Hot 97, YBN Cordae said that he first met Osaka during a Los Angeles Clippers game. He stated that when he approached her, he had no idea she was a professional tennis player, stating that he didn’t watch tennis at the time and only knew about Serena Williams. ^[3]

5. Loves Video Games

Osaka frequently discusses her passion for video games. In fact, she once told GQ that after an average of four hours of training at the Evert Tennis Academy in Boca Raton, FL, she’d spend another four to five hours with her sister Mari playing Overwatch. ^[4]

6. Deep Connections With Famous Athletes

Osaka has developed close and intimate relationships with some of the best athletes of all time. Serena Williams has been referred to as her “mom,” and the late Kobe Bryant has been referred to as her “big bro.”

7. Designer Of Limited Edition Mask

In July 2020, Osaka and her sister Mari announced the creation of a limited-edition mask, with all revenues helping UNICEF Japan’s COVID-19 relief efforts. It wasn’t her first effort into fashion; she had debuted her first collection at New York Fashion Week in February. ^[5]

8. Advocate For Mental Health And Racial Justice

Osaka is a vocal supporter of racial justice and mental wellness. When news of police violence against black people surfaced, she withdrew from the 2020 Cincinnati Open in order to bring awareness for Jacob Blake, a black man who was a victim of police brutality.