Japanese/American · Osaka, Japan · Born 16 October 1997Four Grand Slams and the athlete who sparked the global conversation about mental health in sport.
Naomi Osaka was born in Osaka, Japan in 1997 to a Japanese mother and Haitian-American father. She grew up in the United States. She won four Grand Slam titles by age 24. She withdrew from the French Open in 2021 citing the mental health impact of mandatory press conferences — a decision that generated the most significant individual sports-mental health conversation in modern media. She was subsequently absent from competition for extended periods. She lit the Olympic torch at Tokyo 2021. She is the highest-earning female athlete in history by annual income — her endorsement earnings exceeding $50 million annually. She returned from a year-long break following the birth of her daughter in 2024. Osaka's comeback gathered real momentum in 2025, including a statement victory over defending champion Coco Gauff at the US Open.
Defeating Serena Williams to win the 2018 US Open for her first Grand Slam title at age 20.
How They Played
Osaka possesses one of the most powerful serves on the WTA tour, regularly hitting serves over 120 mph. Her aggressive baseline game is built around heavy groundstrokes, particularly her devastating forehand that she uses to dictate rallies and hit winners from both defensive and offensive positions.
Lasting Impact
Osaka broke barriers as the first player of Asian heritage to reach No. 1 and inspired a new generation of tennis players from diverse backgrounds.
Career Honours
- US Open 2x (2018,2020)
- Australian Open 2x (2019,2021)
- World No.1 2019
Japanese/American Athletes