Naomi Osaka has revealed she is writing a book, and shared a brief passage from it with her fans.
Osaka still has many years left in the sport if she wants to continue competing at the age of 27. However, there is already enough material from her eventful career to write a fascinating book.
The Japanese player became a worldwide star after beating Serena Williams in the 2018 US Open final, one of the most controversial finals ever. Williams received a game penalty from Carlos Ramos after three code violations.
Osaka triumphed in straight sets after outplaying the tennis legend in the final, but she was unfairly booed by the American crowd, who sided with their home player in the row she had with Ramos.
Since then, Osaka has won another US Open title and the 2019 and 2021 Australian Opens and became the world's No. 1 player. Her blistering brand of tennis on hard courts was almost unstoppable at its best.
Osaka did not compete in 2023 because she was on maternity leave after giving birth to her first child. There was much excitement when the four-time Grand Slam champion returned to the sport at the start of 2024.
Although Osaka struggled for consistency throughout the season, she was still nominated for the WTA Comeback Player of the Year. Her best performance of 2024 came at the French Open, where she held a match point to beat four-time champion Iga Swiatek before narrowly losing.
One thing Osaka has spoken openly and bravely about is mental health and struggling with self-confidence. For example, she admitted earlier this season to struggling with her body not swiftly returning to normal after being pregnant.
The two-time Australian Open winner could discuss any of the issues mentioned above in the book she revealed is upcoming. Osaka did not provide a release date, but it is still exciting news for tennis fans.
In the excerpt she released, Osaka delved into the topic of self-confidence by mentioning that she never really liked herself growing up but also felt she did not dislike herself either.
"Growing up I never really really liked myself. While that statement is bold I wouldn't say I disliked myself either. It was strange contradiction of thought. I was existing but I didn't have a strong emotion or opinion tied to my being whether positive or negative."
"That being said, for some reason, when I was young, I knew that I potentially would've preferred to be someone else. Perhaps a pop star, or someone else rich or famous at the time. Sadly, my 11-year-old didn't see how that could be possible with our earthly restraints, so I reluctantly had no choice but to live as the person I was born as."
The short excerpt Osaka has released indicates that her book should be fascinating, and it will likely receive much attention when it is eventually released at some point in the future.
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