‘Devastated’ Naomi Osaka Reveals How Baby Shai Gave Her a New Lease on Life

All is not well for Naomi Osaka but she knows how to deal with it. Despite having a rough season leading to her first-round exit from the Paris Olympics, Osaka wishes to look at the brighter side. Mentioning how she felt “like a completely different person” this year, this Japanese WTA star decodes her new success mantra giving a hint at the positive things about Shai’s presence in her life.

Osaka is prepping to face off against Tunisian Ons Jabeur at the Canadian Open tomorrow. Before her D-day, she revealed an interesting take on success during her recent post-conference for the tour. “Well, I would say when I was younger I defined success by winning tournaments, winning matches. I defined my worth a lot by like whether I won or lost and now I would say for example I lost in the Olympics I was of course really devastated but I don’t know I was just surrounded by my team and then I went back home and I saw my daughter and I don’t know she’s just happy to be alive. She’s happy that I’m her mom for some reason and it just gave me a lot I guess motivation,” she said.

Osaka couldn’t make a steady run at the Paris Olympics. She lost to Angelique Kerber in the first round, putting a full stop to her Olympics dream this time. Given the Japanese WTA star has been facing turbulent times in her professional career since the Brisbane Open this season, her defeat at the Paris Olympics must have been truly disappointing to her. However, Osaka decided not to let her spirit down. Instead of crying over her recent difficulties in her professional career, she chose to look at the brighter things, where her daughter Shai became a motivating factor.

Now, Osaka previously talked about how her daughter inspires her to win. According to Tennis365, this Japanese WTA star said, “I felt, I don’t know, like a part of me felt like Shai was watching me. I wanted to do my best for her.”

While Osaka channeled a very mature self with her recent take on success, on the contrary, she showcased an enthusiastic child in herself while narrowing down her objectives at the Paris Olympics.

Naomi Osaka had two major wishes in the Paris Olympics along with her dream of a medal

While winning a medal was definitely a big motivation for Osaka to attend the Paris Olympics, she had two other important things on her wishlist. “I have two very important goals in mind. One is to buy Shai a very cute souvenir from the Olympic souvenir store. And then two I am going to bargain, hassle, stop anybody that has a Haitian pin and I am going to beg them for it or I am going to park myself outside of the Haitian building.” Osaka was also approached by Haitian swimmer Alexander S. Grand’Pierre, gymnast Lynnzee Brown, and swimming coach Naomy Grand’Pierre to exchange pins at the Olympics.

Naomi Osaka’s revelations showcase her brilliance in prioritizing both her daughter and her professional career. While she couldn’t earn any significant victory this season, she surely won the hearts of millions by offering a perfect example of balancing motherhood and career.