Naomi Osaka Shocks By Announcing Split From Boyfriend Cordae
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Naomi Osaka announced the sad news of her split from boyfriend and father to her child, Cordae.
Osaka already endured a tough moment at the ASB Classic. She reached the final in Auckland and had an opportunity to win her first WTA title since securing a fourth Grand Slam title at the 2021 Australian Open.
The Japanese star showed some of her old form during that run to the final in New Zealand. It has given hope that Osaka can return to the level that took her to four major titles if she keeps working hard.
Sadly, Osaka retired after the first set of the ASB Classic final against Clara Tauson. The 27-year-old won the opening set but did not feel she could risk playing further because of an abdominal injury.
Nonetheless, it was still a positive tournament for Osaka after a challenging few years on the court. She went on maternity leave in 2023 after a difficult 2022 season before an inconsistent return to the WTA tour in 2024.
The two-time Australian Open champion has spoken regularly about the effects of being a mother. For instance, Osaka said reaching the semifinal of the ASB Classic as a mother meant a lot to her before she reached the final.
In addition, Osaka has also been open about how challenging she found managing her post-pregnancy body after returning to professional tennis. The former world No. 1 discussed how her body did not return to how it was before as quickly as she expected.
Osaka and Cordae were together for six years. They seemed happy together, and the WTA star often praised him as a good dad and for supporting her through difficult moments.
The ASB Classic runner-up's announcement about the split was respectful to Cordae. Even though their romantic relationship had ended, she called him a great person and an awesome dad.
"Hi everyone, just wanted to say that Cordae and I are no longer in a relationship. No bad blood at all, he's a great person and an awesome dad. Honestly really glad our paths crossed because my daughter is my biggest blessing and I was able to grow a lot from our experiences together."
It is unclear how long Osaka and Cordae have been split. Announcements about athletes or other celebrities parting often only come out weeks after the initial decision between the pair was made.
Osaka's performances at the ASB Classic indicate that Cordae and her splitting did not negatively impact her. Hopefully, their relationship will stay amicable and continue raising their daughter in a positive environment.
The four-time Grand Slam winner is not the only player to have a relationship end. Alexander Shevchenko and Anastasia Potapova, both tennis players, recently announced their divorce after a short marriage.
By contrast, Aryna Sabalenka confirmed that she and her boyfriend were not engaged after a picture emerged of her wearing a ring. The current WTA World No. 1 said it was just a beautiful ring he had bought her.
