Osaka was born to a Japanese mother and a Haitian father who moved to New York in the U.S. when she was three years old. Now she is based in Florida.
In 2013, Osaka started her professional career in tennis. With a height of 180cm and a powerful serve and a strong forehand, the world saw Osaka as a rising star. In the 2016 US Open, a serve by her was timed at 201.1km/h.
She qualified for the Women’s Tennis Association tour championship in July of 2014 at Bank of the West Classic for the first time. In the first round match, Osaka defeated Samantha Stosur who was ranked 19th in the world and was also the 2011 US Open Champion.
In January 2016 at the Australian Open, Osaka qualified to enter her first Grand Slam, rolling into the third round. During the day season, she also reached the third round of the French Open and the US Open.
In September of that same year, Osaka entered the Toray Pan Pacific Open, where she was given a wildcard entry and rolled into her first WTA final. She was the first Japanese woman to reach the final since Kimiko Date won in 1995. Osaka placed 2nd in the final and was voted the WTA “Breakthrough of the Month.”
Osaka won “Newcomer of the Year” at the 2016 WTA Awards.
In March of 2018, Naomi became the first Japanese woman to win the Indian Wells Masters in California (USA). A Premier Mandatory, Indian Wells is widely considered the second biggest event in tennis, right behind the Grand Slam.
