Naomi Osaka gave birth to her first child as the former World No. 1 joined the club of mothers on the WTA Tour.
The Japanese player welcomed a baby girl, whose name is yet to be unveiled, marking the beginning of a new chapter for Osaka. The news was shared in an unexpected reveal by her boyfriend, the accomplished American rapper, Cordae as reported by the Olympics.
Cordae chose his latest show at the Calgary Stampede to share the joyful news, much to the delight of fans. It's a move that seemingly intertwines the couple's professional realms – tennis and music, with the shared joy of parenthood.
Earlier this year, Osaka announced her pregnancy while simultaneously pulling out of the Australian Open. Always the epitome of resilience and determination, the four-time Grand Slam winner made it clear that her temporary retreat from professional tennis at the age of 25 was merely a brief hiatus.
The tenacity that saw Osaka clinch the Australian Open titles in 2019 and 2021, as well as the US Open in 2018 and 2020, remains undiminished. Quite the contrary, the birth of her child appears to have stoked the embers of her competitive spirit.
Osaka already has a return date in her mind. The last time she spoke about her comeback, the former World No. 1 mentioned the 2024 Australian Open as a place for her comeback, a tournament that she won twice in her career.
"I'm definitely going to perform well and be a better player than I have been last year. For me, my results just made me want to try harder and be the best that I can be. I’ll be competing in Australia next year."
But now Osaka will focus on different things as she'll enjoy motherhood with her first daughter. Congratulations Naomi!