‘I Would See My Mom Crying’ – Devastated Naomi Osaka Details the Struggles of Her Family’s Sole Breadwinner

Success rarely comes easy; overcoming adversity is often a key ingredient. When we talk about Naomi Osaka what comes to your mind first? A former world number who has won seven titles in her career so far, including four Grand Slam triumphs? Well, that’s true and everyone loves to see one’s success but one can hardly feel the pinch of struggle she and her family have gone through to reach where she is today. Only a few would really know the journey and the number of times she has failed. A heartbreaking childhood tale of Naomi Osaka led her to pave the way for her own daughter.

Naomi Osaka’s parents, Leonard Francois and Tamaki Osaka, have played quite an instrumental role in her success as a tennis player. But the journey wasn’t easy. Osaka has time and again spoken highly of her parents and their support of her financially, mentally and athletically. Naomi and her sister Mari, were introduced to tennis by their Haitian father, Leonard Francois. Francois was a successful businessman and didn’t have any background or experience in tennis. But he was inspired by the story of Richard Williams and her daughters.

He wanted to follow the same road for his daughters. So, he even later on moved to Florida (2006) to give his daughters better opportunities to train. But her mother, Tamaki Osaka, who was also a former professional tennis player had to go the extra mile to make ends meet for the family. Since Francois became busy in training their daughters, their Japanese mother had to work multiple jobs to barely support her family financially. Recalling those instances, Naomi Osaka recently said she was extremely aware of her family’s struggles and added, “I would often see my mom crying.“

Unlike many players, Naomi Osaka’s tennis aspirations extended beyond personal glory. Her primary motivation was to financially support her family, particularly allowing her mother to stop working. This responsibility, thrust upon her as the youngest child and family breadwinner, led to a period where she felt obligated to prioritize her career indefinitely.

Earlier during an interview with PEOPLE, she said, “While it was not easy, my family was dedicated to helping me get the access I needed to reach my goals. But unfortunately, not all girls have the same opportunities that I did.” However, she’s since embarked on a journey to redefine her relationship with tennis on her own terms. She is now the pride of her nation, a torchbearer of women’s tennis. 

In July 2023, the 26-year-old tennis pro gave birth to her first child, Shai, with rapper Cordae. The decision to pursue personal goals following childbirth hasn’t been without sacrifices. Osaka chose not to travel with her daughter Shai in the early months, and while they maintain regular video calls, the separation has become increasingly challenging. But the main pillars of her success have been her mother and father who worked incredibly hard to support her and her passion for tennis.

“I always call my parents a bit crazy” – Naomi Osaka

Reflecting more on the sacrifices and hard work put on by her mother to see her in this position, Naomi Osaka added, “She always put others first and encouraged me to embrace my diversity. Every role model I’ve had has inspired me to dream big. To level up in every way.” Tamaki Osaka has been a true role model for her in every sense. And now she wants to be a similar role model to her daughter, Shai. Naomi Osaka once gave an interview to CBS News and there she spoke about the power of having someone believing in yourself.

“I came from a mom that worked for basically my entire childhood to put me through tennis. My dad, who was with me the entire time. And I knew that they had a really hard time,” Osaka. The Japanese tennis star further went on to add, “Tennis is an expensive sport. So, just to put two kids through that. And just, I guess, believe in them so much is something that — I always call my parents a bit crazy.” Share what are your thoughts on this amazing journey of Naomi Osaka.