Naomi Osaka Addresses Challenges of Being Japanese and Black: “I’ve Just Always Been Considered Different”

Naomi Osaka withdrew from the WTA 1000 events in the Middle East Swing due to an abdominal injury.

Naomi Osaka Addresses Challenges of Being Japanese and Black: “I’ve Just Always Been Considered Different”

Naomi Osaka (Image via X/Tiempo De Tenis)

In Short
  • Naomi Osaka expressed her desire to be remembered for making it easier for future generations.
  • She addressed the challenges of her biracial identity, encouraging others to embrace their uniqueness.
  • Osaka withdrew from the Middle East Swing due to an abdominal injury but plans to return for the Sunshine Doubles.

Naomi Osaka revealed how she would like to be remembered as someone who has made it “easier for the generation after“. Osaka was last seen in action at the Australian Open, where, after reaching the third round, she handed the walkover to Maddison Inglis.

Osaka turned the heads of the tennis world when she walked onto the court of the Rod Laver Arena donning the now-famous jellyfish-inspired outfit. The four-time Grand Slam champion has never shied away from making fashion statements with bold outfits. For her, the Australian Open outfit was “definitely about self-expression.

Osaka, because of her mixed heritage, has learned since a very young age about the challenges of being considered “different”. Born to a Haitian father, Leonard Francois, and Japanese mother Tamaki, Osaka grew up in the US. During her interview with Hypebeast, the former World No.1 addressed her biracial identity, saying people like her should embrace themselves and not feel ashamed.

And also someone that made it easy for the people that are different or unique. For me, with my background being Japanese and Haitian, and American, I’ve just always been considered different. And growing up, playing with the Japanese flag, but not looking fully Japanese, it just made me aware of being a little different from everyone else. I was always kind of OK with it, and I realized that for some people, it’s tough to accept that. I realized there are always a few black sheep in the bunch, and just hope that they know that it’s cool to be different and unique.

Due to a recurring abdominal injury, Osaka ended up withdrawing from the Middle East Swing. She is expected to be back for the Sunshine Doubles, the first leg of which, Indian Wells, starts on March 4.

Naomi Osaka praises Novak Djokovic for his hunger for more Grand Slam glory

Naomi Osaka last lifted a tour-level title at the 2021 Australian Open. She then lost three finals, including at the ASB Classic (gave the walkover to Clara Tauson) and the Canadian Open (Victoria Mboko defeated her), last year.

Novak Djokovic (2)
Novak Djokovic (Image via X/Sky Sports Tennis)

The men’s Australian Open this year saw Novak Djokovic reach a Grand Slam final for the first time since the 2024 Wimbledon. And he made the final by defeating none other than two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner.

In the final, the 38-year-old suffered defeat at the hands of Carlos Alcaraz, who became the youngest man in the Open Era to complete the Career Grand Slam. Osaka, during her interview with Hypebeast, lauded the Serb for his hunger for more Grand Slam glory.

In the times before us, I think some athletes could get away with doing certain things just because they were athletic enough. Now everyone’s figuring out their fitness level. I feel like that also has to do with Djokovic, to be honest. He’s kind of set a precedent on understanding your body and putting in work to do all the recovery. He’s amazing. He just went to the Australian Open finals, and he’s still here fighting and winning.

The win over Sinner helped Djokovic snap his five-match losing streak. Alcaraz, on the other hand, improved his head-to-head record to 5-5.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion next featured at the Qatar Open, winning it for the first time by defeating Arthur Fils. Djokovic skipped the Doha ATP 500 event, where last year, Matteo Berrettini knocked him out in the first round.

The 24-time Major champion is expected to play at the Indian Wells Masters, where he has won five titles. Last year, he lost in the second round. Alcaraz lost to eventual champion Jack Draper in the semifinals last year.

Also read: Stefanos Tsitsipas Restarts Feud With Former Coach Goran Ivanisevic: “I Regret Certain Decisions”