Naomi Osaka is using motherhood as a lens on her tennis comeback, revealing her perspective in a new documentary and setting the stage for a high-profile U.S. Open showdown with Coco Gauff on September 1.
The tennis superstar, who shares a 2-year-old daughter named Shai with ex-boyfriend Cordae, touches on how becoming a mother has reshaped her life and career. In the Tubi documentary, Naomi Osaka: The Second Set, she describes her return to the court as a “love letter for moms,” emphasizing that she’s more than just an athlete.
“I have multiple identities,” Osaka says in the trailer, and adds that her path back to tennis is deeply entwined with her experience as a parent. She even reflects on the idea that while some people thought motherhood might end her career, she believes it helped launch a new chapter for her.
The film shows Osaka balancing her identity as a top player with life at home. She speaks about motherhood as a dream fulfilled, saying that having a family was always a personal goal. The trailer includes her remarks that the past few years have been challenging but also among the most rewarding, noting that the time away from the sport renewed her love and appreciation for tennis.
Osaka, currently ranked 24th in the world by the WTA, appears in the footage with her daughter, reinforcing the message that family is central to her life and her approach to the game. The trailer opens with her asserting that she is more than a tennis player, followed by scenes of Shai, underscoring the intimate nature of the documentary.
In 2023, Osaka revealed she was pregnant in an Instagram post that she later deleted. She reflected on the period away from competition, describing it as a time that deepened her love for the sport and gave her perspective on life’s fragility, with hopes that her daughter will someday watch one of her matches and feel proud to call her mom.
The piece also touches on Osaka’s personal life with Cordae. In the wake of their breakup, she publicly described him as a great person and an awesome dad, expressing gratitude for the experiences that helped her grow and for the joy her daughter brings to her life.
Summary
Naomi Osaka’s new documentary offers an intimate look at how motherhood has shaped her as both a person and an athlete. With an upcoming clash against Coco Gauff at the U.S. Open, the film positions Osaka’s return as not just a sports story, but a broader narrative about identity, family, and resilience.
Additional comments
– The documentary could broaden conversations about motherhood in elite sports and inspire conversations about how athletes manage life off the court while competing at the highest level.
– Osaka’s emphasis on being “more than a tennis player” may resonate with fans who follow her off-court ventures and personal journey.
– If the film succeeds in showing the day-to-day realities of balancing parenthood with professional competition, it could provide a valuable, humanizing counterpoint to the focus on results and rankings.