Naomi Osaka Calls Tennis Her ‘Aspect Hustle’ as She Opens Up About Being a Mother to 3-Yr-Outdated Daughter Shai

NEED TO KNOW

• Naomi Osaka opened up about balancing motherhood with skilled tennis when talking with media on the 2026 US Open
• The Grand Slam champion referred to as being a mother to daughter Shai her primary focus and tennis her “aspect hustle”
• She returned to competitors after giving delivery, impressed to point out her daughter the game that formed her life

a has already received.

The four-time Grand Slam champion, 28, spoke with reporters forward of the 2026 US Open girls’s singles draw a couple of newfound perspective on tennis since changing into a mother to her daughter i in July 2023.

“I feel individuals overlook my primary job is to be a mother. This [tennis] is form of like my aspect hustle somewhat bit. I simply occur to be actually good at it,” a on Saturday, Aug. 29.

Osaka, who received the US Open in 2018 and 2020, withdrew from the Cincinnati Open on account of fatigue, however wanted to be together with her little woman. Now, she’s again and able to tackle the ultimate Grand Slam of the season.

“I do really feel like I’ve performed lots of matches… Actually, that is the floor that I’m most snug with,” she mentioned of the courts on the USTA Billie Jean King Nationwide Tennis Middle in Flushing Meadows, N.Y.

Osaka, who welcomed Shai with ex-boyfriend Cordae, famous that her daughter “loves swinging her little mini racket round” regardless of not hitting the “actual courtroom” simply but. She praised the benefits of studying a sport as a child.

“I really feel prefer it teaches you numerous,” she mentioned of tennis. “I feel there’s lots of traits that I’ve that I like that I do know I gained by the game, and I feel sports activities generally is admittedly good for youths. It teaches self-discipline and all these different issues.”

Forward of the 2025 US Open, Osaka spoke completely with PEOPLE about h of her first daughter.

“I used to be a type of those who thought after I had a child I’d cease enjoying tennis,” she informed PEOPLE final August at a non-public screening of her documentary, The Second Set.

The documentary intimately chronicles Osaka’s life following Shai’s delivery. The movie additionally exhibits the intricate steadiness between Osaka’s return to the courtroom and navigating motherhood.

Somewhat than retire, like she initially contemplated after Shai’s delivery, Osaka had completely different plans.

“Whereas I used to be pregnant, I used to be form of very impressed,” she mentioned. “I additionally needed my daughter to have the ability to see me play tennis. It was such a giant a part of my life and I really feel like she doesn’t comprehend it, however she positively impressed me to proceed.”

Osaka reached the semifinals of the US Open final 12 months however misplaced to Amanda Anisimova.

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She is going to face Anastasia Zakharova within the first spherical on Monday, Aug. 31.

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