Naomi Osaka's baby daughter Shai makes rare appearance in her 2024 wrap: Never-before-seen pictures

Naomi Osaka recently gave her fans a rare treat by sharing a series of heartwarming photos featuring her one-year-old daughter, Shai. Osaka reflected on the joys of motherhood, recapping her cherished memories from 2024.

Osaka became a mother in July 2023, welcoming Shai with her boyfriend, rapper Cordae. The Japanese tennis star is currently in Auckland, New Zealand, to compete in the 2025 ASB Classic after an eight-year break from the WTA 250 tournament.

The former World No. 1 first appeared in the Auckland tournament back in 2017, where she advanced to the quarterfinals but had to retire mid-match due to a wrist injury.

This year, she has secured her second quarterfinal berth and is set to face either Hailey Baptiste or Jodie Burrage on January 2, 2025. The seventh seed reached the last eight by defeating Lina Glushko 6-4, 6-4 and Julia Grabher 7-5, 6-3.

Amid her campaign, Osaka, who is known for being very private about her daughter, surprised fans on January 1, 2025, by sharing a rare series of heartwarming pictures. The images included tender moments of Osaka embracing Shai, taking serene walks, and even a snapshot of the toddler watching her mother compete on television.

"2024 wrap but it’s pics of me and the cutest girl in the world," Osaka wrote.

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Naomi Osaka shares insight into the impact of motherhood on her career and personal journey

In Picture: Naomi Osaka during the 2024 China Open (Image source: Getty)

Naomi Osaka shared how the arrival of her baby daughter, Shai, has reshaped both her professional career and personal life. In an episode of the 'Good Trouble with Nick Kyrgios' podcast in April 2024, the Australian tennis star asked Osaka if becoming a mother had altered her perspective on tennis.

Osaka admitted that her thoughts often revolve around returning home to Shai, especially after practice sessions, a stark contrast to her younger years when she would spend extra time lingering at the training grounds.

"I just feel like I don't have time to waste. I'm trying to be really efficient with everything. When I was younger, I could hit for three hours and waste time in the middle or whatever but now I know that someone's waiting for me at home and I have to take care of her so I just feel like every second counts," Naomi Osaka said (at 15:00).

The 27-year-old also acknowledged feeling a newfound connection with her mother, Tamaki, appreciating her sacrifices and experiences more deeply than ever before.

"I talk to my mom a lot and I appreciate her way more now that I'm a mom and I'm going through the feelings that she was going through like a mom's job is never over," she added.

In other news, Naomi Osaka shared her desire to focus more on motherhood if she doesn’t live upto her own expectations in tennis.