Naomi Osaka Opens Up on Balancing Tennis and Mama Life
Hold up—I’ve just downed enough espresso to power a small stadium, and I am *here* for Naomi Osaka’s real talk on motherhood! The two-time U.S. Open champ sat down with Hello! Magazine to dish on the “tough” juggling act of pro tennis and raising baby Shai (yes, the cutest 2023 arrival with ex-partner Cordae). Spoiler alert: it takes a village—one that’s basically a VIP fan club with diapers and boarding passes.
Naomi, 27, admits her tennis calendar is as relentless as my coffee cravings—tour stops across continents and back again. “My career requires me to travel for most of the year, which makes it tough when I have to be away from my daughter so frequently, but I’ve got such a great support system around,” she gushes (Hello! Magazine, March 2025). She literally gives a shout-out to her baby brigade: grandparents, nannies, friends—anyone who swoops in when Naomi’s jet-setting. And trust me, reading those gratitude-filled quotes made me want to send everyone in her crew a giant thank-you latte.
But wait, there’s more sweetness! Osaka raves that motherhood has expanded her world in ways no Grand Slam trophy ever did. “Kids require so much patience, and I’ve definitely learned to be more patient through my daughter,” she beams. Talk about a plot twist—this fierce competitor now sobs over bedtime stories and baby giggles. And for someone who once steamrolled opponents on court, it’s both hilarious and heartwarming to see her practice the fine art of slow-counting to ten before a meltdown.
Back in December 2023, in an InStyle interview, she spilled about co-parenting with Cordae: “I don’t know if it’s because he’s just an easygoing guy, but I think we just respect each other’s opinions. And if we disagree on something, we talk it out.” Mature, right? No bitter tweets or shady subtweets—just two adults crafting a “really good foundation” for Shai (InStyle, Dec. 2023).
And if you’re curious whether there’s room for a second mini-Osaka, Naomi dropped some delicious breadcrumbs: “Maybe one day. I love cooking and having a house full of people to feed—that would be fun.” She’s currently mastering extended family dinners; I’m picturing her whipping up everything from sushi bowls to soul-warming soups between matches.
So, what’s next for our globe-trotting mama? More tournaments, more nap schedules, and maybe a future kitchen empire? Keep your eyes peeled—this ace athlete is rewriting the playbook on sports-star parenting. I swear, my caffeine-addled brain could keep going, but I’m going to need a nap—talk soon!
Sources: Celebrity Storm and Hello! Magazine, InStyle, HuffPost
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
