Naomi Osaka is embracing motherhood with open arms while keeping her tennis dreams alive! Just like any other tennis mom, she also never misses an opportunity to talk about her child or to share updates with her fans. Prior to her involvement in the French Open, Osaka recently shared a sweet life update about Shai, emphasizing their unique bond despite her hectic tennis schedule.

In a pre-tournament press conference, she shared her motherly joy regarding how her daughter recently walked for the first time. She stated, “Being away from her was really tough but I called her every day. I saw how well she was doing and I saw how happy she was, so that made me happy too, but yesterday she like walked for the first time.” 

Not only that, she also talked about how it’s amazing to have her daughter with her in Paris during the French Open. In addition, she said, “So, I was really happy about that and um we’re going to practice some more when I get back but yeah it’s really cool to have her here and um just to see how much she’s grown and um how many things she’s doing differently it’s kind of surreal.”

The four-time Grand Slam champion, gave birth to her first child, Shai, in July of last year. She had taken a break from tennis for more than 15 months, but she returned in January. For Osaka, who had gone through both incredible success and difficult times in her career, including issues with her form and mental health, this sabbatical came at a crucial time.

But becoming a mother gave her the chance to stop, think, and refuel, which gave her fresh perspective and energy when she went back to her career. Subsequently, while a lot of people around her thought that she might retire after becoming a mother, the Japanese tennis player, her love for tennis only grew with the new role in her personal life.

She said, “I know a lot of people probably think I retired in that year but it just made me a lot more grateful for the sport and, in turn, made me just know there’s so many possibilities outside tennis and I realised I would still love to play tennis.” However, earlier this year, while making a comeback during the Australian Open, the former world number one herself opened up about becoming a role model to her daughter in the future.

Naomi Osaka wants “to be a good role model” for Shai

Earlier this year, the four-time Grand Slam champion opened up about turning pages and becoming a good athlete for her daughter. She said, “Also, when I was signing autographs, I was more aware of kids. I see them differently now because now I’m a mom, too, and I can picture Shai being that age. Yeah, I think while I’m playing, I’m aware of it in the sense that I want to be a good role model for my daughter.”

Osaka also emphasized how parenthood has changed her perspective and personality, stating that it has made her more patient and open-minded. She mentioned feeling physically stronger as well, attributing her daughter’s support to her assistance in many areas of her life.

Nevertheless, what are your thoughts on Osaka’s motherhood? Do let us know in the comment section below.