Naomi Osaka was the first Asian tennis player ever to be ranked No. 1 in the world and the first Japanese player to win a Grand Slam event. And in 2020, she unseated Serena Williams by being named the world’s highest-paid female athlete.
Born to a Japanese mother and a Haitian father, she grew up in the United States but has been a Japanese citizen from birth and has always played under the Japanese flag.
“I give credit equally to all those cultures for shaping me into the person I am today. I credit my Japanese side for my discipline, good manners, cleanliness, and sense of style. My mom's work ethic, working two jobs a day to support my tennis, has rubbed off on me too. My American side has allowed me to be more open-minded and progressive. And my Haitian side has given me the courage to push through when things get tough,” she once explained.
She turned pro in 2013, at age 16, and became an international phenomenon by defeating Serena Williams in the 2018 U.S. Open final. And by winning the Australian Open title for the second time earlier this year, she claimed her fourth Grand Slam title at only 23 years old.
With her champion’s mindset, not only did she quickly go from almost unknown to one of the world’s greatest tennis players, she has also used her platform for activism. She takes every opportunity to promote gender equality in sport and beyond, and has also lent her voice to the Black Lives Matter movement.
Last year, for example, she chose to drop out of the semi-final at the Western & Southern Open in New York to raise awareness for the shooting of Jacob Blake. At the 2020 U.S. Open, in a call for racial justice, she wore masks printed with the names of several African-Americans who were victims of police brutality.
And, now looking forward to taking part in her first Olympic Games in Tokyo, she is particularly proud of the work being done to promote gender equality at the games. It is safe to say that her path is inspiring a generation of aspiring women athletes, and that this is only the beginning of what is sure to be a prolific career.