Naomi Osaka is stacking up the wins and not just on the court. She‘s crushing motherhood as well!
On July 2, the four-time Grand Slam champ served up a sweet Wimbledon victory, but the real headline is that she dedicated the whole thing to her daughter Shai, who turned two the very same day. Talk about a full-circle mama moment.
“Happy Shai day,” Osaka wrote on Instagram, keeping it simple, heartfelt, and all love. Then, she headed over to Threads, posting, “My big girl is 2 years old. I can’t believe it!”
Osaka welcomed Shai in July 2023 with rapper Cordae, and since then, she’s been balancing pro tennis and motherhood like it’s second nature. Just six weeks after giving birth, Naomi was already back to training.
“2023 will be a year that’ll be full of lessons for me and I hope I’ll see you guys in the start of the next one cause I’ll be at Aus 2024. Love you all infinitely,” she wrote at the time on Instagram.
The 27-year-old has always been vocal about how hard parenting can be, but she’s also fiercely proud of showing up for her daughter and her dreams.
In a powerful video announcing her partnership with Bobbie, a mom-founded pediatric nutrition brand, the tennis phenom held her baby close as she confessed, “You know what pushes me? You,” Osaka began in the video.
“Being a parent is hard,” Naomi wrote in the caption. “As a professional athlete, I am no stranger to hard work or early mornings, but the last 6 months as a new mom has given me a whole new appreciation and understanding of what parents do every single day. Parents, moms in particular, are historically told that babies will be a barrier to personal goals… But I have discovered that Shai is my ultimate motivator; she makes me want to achieve greatness.”
From center court to toddler birthday cakes, Naomi Osaka is proof that motherhood isn’t a pause button on your dreams, it’s fuel.
