10 Smashing Facts About Tennis Phenom Naomi Osaka

Though she’s now coached by Wim Fissette – who has worked with tennis greats including Victoria Azarenka, Kim Clijsters, Simona Halep, and Angelique Kerber – Osaka first began playing tennis under her dad Leonard François, who used a similar model to that of Serena and Venus Williams’s father, training both Osaka and her sister Mari, starting at the age of 3.

In 2019, Barbie released a line of dolls celebrating extraordinary women, including Osaka. In an Instagram post, she described the experience as “surreal,” having played with Barbies herself as a little girl, but said she was honored to “help inspire the next generation of girls.”

Osaka has made deep and personal connections with some of the greatest athletes of all time. She has referred to Serena Williams as her “mom” and the late Kobe Bryant as her “big bro.” Before his death, Bryant texted Osaka after matches, especially losses, to help her remain confident. “There would be some really tough losses. I didn’t even know he was paying attention, but he would text me positive things and tell me to learn from it,” she told WSJ Magazine. “For me, it was definitely helpful.”