The first birthday of any child is a highly important affair for parents. For star player Naomi Osaka, perhaps nothing comes close. The Japanese sensation, currently immersed in the grass-court season and a much-anticipated return to Wimbledon after a five-year hiatus has her hands full. Yet, amidst the whirlwind of practices and matches, Osaka has shown that no tournament can rival the importance of her daughter Shai in her life.

The 26-year-old tennis pro welcomed daughter Shai in July 2023 with her boyfriend, Cordae. She took a break from the sport for a long 15 months and returned only this year. While the tennis star is eyeing her first grand slam on the green surface, nothing is keeping her away from celebrating her daughter’s birthday and expressing her disbelief over how fast the time has flown.

Taking to her Instagram story on Wednesday, Naomi shared a screenshot of her Threads. She wrote, “My big girl is one today🥹 I can’t believe it.” Shai is one of the biggest motivations for Osaka to perform well on the courts. The 1-year-old is often spotted accompanying her mother around the world during the tours. Meanwhile, Osaka’s post comes soon after she expresses how grateful she is to have Shai in her life. 

Speaking at a pre-tournament conference, Naomi Osaka opened up about the challenges of motherhood amid intense tennis sessions. When asked if she faces any difficulties, she claimed that her daughter is a “relatively happy girl.” “So, she just has a lot of energy and I have to play with her a lot to tire her out. So sometimes, it’s a little tiring to go from practice to running around with her, but I wouldn’t say that’s anything that I would complain about, I think. I don’t know; it’s a bit of a dream to be here with her.” Along with her daughter’s birthday, Osaka is celebrating a special occasion in Wimbledon. 

‘It felt like an arena,’ Naomi Osaka on her ‘stressful’ match against Diane Parry

Naomi Osaka won her last match at Wimbledon in 2018. Since then, the former World No.1 has failed to win anything on the surface. While she made a sensational comeback this tournament, her win was not quite easy and was poised with challenges. Speaking after defeating Diane Parry 6-1, 1-6, 6-4, the 4-time Grand Slam champion opened up on the challenges she encountered.

She lauded the audience as they cheered for her and highlighted that the match was nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. “For me, it felt really fun and really stressful at the same time,” Osaka said after her win. “It was fun because the crowd was so engaged. … It felt like an arena. The match I think was a little up-and-down, but I think overall it was something that I can take a lot away from.”

As Naomi is all set to face America’s Emma Navarro in the second round, it will be fascinating to see if she can bring out the best of her in the Grand Slam. Can she win big at Wimbledon? Only time will tell.