Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka was born on October 16, 1997. After turning pro in September 2013, she made her WTA Tour debut at the 2014 Stanford Classic, defeating former US Open champion Samantha Stosur. She has won seven professional titles, including two Australian Opens and two US Opens, and is ranked No. 57 in the singles rankings as of December 2024. In January 2019, the WTA ranked her as the world's top singles player, making her the first Asian player to achieve this feat.
Osaka became the first Japanese player to win a major singles championship and the first woman to win consecutive major singles wins since Serena Williams in 2015 for the 2018 US Open and the 2019 Australian Open. Due to depression and other problems, Osaka stopped her 2021 season early, losing early at the US Open, dropping out of Wimbledon, and retiring from the French Open. In 2024, after taking maternity leave in 2023, she resumed competition.
Naomi Osaka’s 2024 Olympic Wildcard Entry
For the 2024 Paris Olympics, Naomi Osaka, then No. 125, due to a 15-month maternity break, was granted a wildcard entrance to represent Japan at the Olympics as per Le Monde. At the event, she finished in 33rd place in singles, as per her Olympic profile. Further, she finished ninth at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and was also the first tennis player to light the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony.
In June 2024, the Japanese Tennis Association (JTA) announced that the International Tennis Federation (ITF) had authorized Osaka to compete in the 2024 Olympics, according to the Express. As per the norms, two wildcards are set aside by the ITF for previous Grand Slam winners to enter the draw if their ranking has dropped as a result of an injury or absence. (via Express-News)
Osaka is one of the competitors whose ranking wasn't good enough because she resumed competition in January 2024 after taking a 15-month pregnancy leave. By giving her a "special ranking" meant for players who were absent from the tour, JTA verified that the ITF had given Osaka permission to play. She also qualifies as a previous Grand Slam champion, they said. (via Express-News)
In her remarks at the Billie Jean Cup in Tokyo, Osaka stated, “I would love to play. Growing up watching the Olympics on TV, I felt that it was a celebration of sport. “I thought it brought everyone together and just to be able to be an athlete there and interact with other athletes is one of the funnest things that I've ever done. I have high ambitions of myself and I hope that I can do really well and get a medal.” (via Le Monde)
FAQs on Naomi Osaka
A. Naomi Osaka is of Japanese nationality. She was born in Osaka, Japan.
A. Naomi Osaka has won a total of four Grand Slams, including two Australian Opens in 2019 and 2021 and two US Opens in 2018 and 2020.
A. Naomi Osaka is 27 years old as of December 2024. She was born on October 16, 1997.
A. Naomi Osaka is ranked world No. 57 as of December 2024, according to the WTA.
A. Naomi Osaka stands 5 feet 11 inches, or 180 cm.
