Naomi Osaka officially became a mother after her boyfriend, the American rapper Cordae, announced the exciting news at one of his shows.
Osaka did not play a match throughout 2023 due to being on maternity leave. That followed a difficult 2022 season for the four-time Grand Slam champion, during which she did not reach her best level.
The Japanese star's game on hard courts especially was unstoppable at its best. She could hit anybody off the court with her formidable serve and blistering power from the baseline during the rallies.
However, Osaka, who has spoken openly about having mental health struggles, was able to take a break from the day-to-day stresses of professional tennis by going on maternity leave.
The 25-year-old is unlikely to be thinking about tennis after giving birth to a daughter, something announced by Cordae at a show he played at the Calgary Stampede, although he did not reveal the baby's name.
Cordae's happiness and excitement as he made that announcement mean it can be assumed that the pregnancy went well and that both Osaka and the baby girl are healthy and doing well.
Osaka has already given a timeline for when fans can expect to see her on the court again. She intends to compete at next year's Australian Open, a Grand Slam she won in 2019 and 2021.
"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."
For now, Osaka can focus on caring for her baby daughter and basking in the wonderful news. Hopefully, she and Cordae will have great times ahead, and the daughter can watch her mother in action on the biggest stages in the future.