Naomi Osaka

Biography

Osaka's thunderous baseline game won four majors in three years, but her influence widened when she used her platform — masks honouring victims of racial violence at the 2020 US Open, and her candour about depression — to shift sport's conversation about athletes as people.

Japanese tennis player who became the first Asian player to hold the singles world No. 1 ranking.

Known for

Four Grand Slam singles titles and lighting the Tokyo Olympic cauldron.

Notable works & defining projects

• US Open titles (2018, 2020)
• Australian Open titles (2019, 2021)
• Hana Kuma (media company)

Notable achievements

• Won four Grand Slam singles titles (US Open 2018, 2020; Australian Open 2019, 2021)
• First Asian tennis player ranked world No. 1 in singles
• Lit the Olympic cauldron at the Tokyo 2020 opening ceremony

Timeline

1. 2018Beat Serena Williams in the US Open final for her first major, aged 20
2. 2019Added the Australian Open and became world No. 1
3. 2021Lit the Olympic cauldron in Tokyo and sparked a global conversation on athlete mental health

Did you know?

• She represents Japan but grew up largely in the United States, and has spoken about embracing both identities
• She co-founded the media company Hana Kuma in 2022