Naomi Osaka planning for new career outside tennis ahead of Australian Open 2025

Naomi Osaka has sparked curiosity among her fans by announcing plans to explore a new career beyond tennis. The revelation comes just ahead of the 2025 Australian Open.

Osaka’s return to tennis after giving birth to her daughter with rapper Cordae didn’t yield the results she had hoped for, though she impressed critics with flashes of brilliance. Now she has arrived in Auckland and looks to kick off the new season on a strong note at the ASB Classic.

The Japanese star will then travel to Melbourne to compete in the Australian Open, a tournament she has won twice in her career. Interestingly, she has also expressed a desire to switch gears and become an investigative journalist with "absolutely no credentials," planning to randomly interview people.

On December 27, Naomi Osaka took to Threads and wrote:

"I’m going to start being an investigative journalist (with absolutely no credentials) 🕵🏾‍♀📹 I will be interviewing people in Melbourne."

Post by @naomiosaka

View on Threads

---

"I think 2024 humbled me, but I also feel like I grew a lot" - Naomi Osaka

Naomi Osaka pictured at the 2024 US Open | Image Source: Getty

Naomi Osaka, now working with her new coach Patrick Mouratoglou, is set to begin her campaign at the ASB Classic in Auckland on December 30. She will face Israeli qualifier Lina Glushko in the opening round.

Ahead of the match, Osaka spoke to the media, reflecting on her 2024 comeback season after giving birth to her daughter, Shai. While acknowledging that the results weren’t as she had hoped, she admitted the experience "humbled" her.

"I think 2024 humbled me, but I also feel like I grew a lot," she said. "I worked way harder than I’ve ever worked before. So in that, I guess it was very painful to not get the results I wanted, but I feel like I’m growing and learning and I am really excited for (2025)."

The four-time Grand Slam champion added:

"I don’t think I’m the type of player that would hang around," she said. "I have a lot of respect for all the players on tour, but the point of my life that I’m at right now, if I’m not above a certain ranking, I don’t see myself playing for a while."

"I’d rather spend time with my daughter if I’m not where I think I should be and where I feel like I can be," she continued further during the press conference.